Vans Aircraft RV4 accident near Ft. Pierce, Florida, May 28, 2005
On May 28, 2005 at about 7:34 pm local time, a Vans Aircraft RV4, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N3074T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Pierce, Florida (Treasure Coast Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion resulting from the pilot's failure to refuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2005 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Pierce, Florida · Treasure Coast Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans Aircraft RV4, amateur-built
- Registration
- N3074T · no longer on the register · serial RV4TFRF
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two witnesses observed the accident airplane approach, enter a bank, and saw the propeller "windmill." They stated that they saw the airplane dive, followed by an abrupt "pull-up", and saw the propeller windmilling again. After the pull-up, the airplane disappeared from sight. Both witnesses reported that they did not hear the sound of the engine. No evidence of usable fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks at the accident site. Following the onscene examination a detailed examination of the airplane and its systems as well as a test run on the engine revealed no anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL37 Ft. Pierce FL at 1:51 pm
- Destination: FL37
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from SUA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.