Chance Vought F4U accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, April 4, 1997
On April 4, 1997 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Chance Vought F4U, registered N45NL, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to assure that an adequate supply of fuel was on board for the intended flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1997 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Chance Vought F4U · all F4Us on the register
- Registration
- N45NL · registry record · serial 124692C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during his preflight inspection of the airplane the fuel gages indicated 120 gallons. He visually checked the fuel tank; however, he did not stick the fuel tank. He departed on the flight and joined up with another airplane at 3,500 feet. A person in a T6 airplane was taking photos of his airplane. His engine started to sputter. He checked his fuel selector on, boost pump on high, mixture full rich, and that the magnetos were on both. He informed the other pilot that he was returning to the airport. The engine continued to sputter and quit about 20 seconds later. He made a forced landing to the water. Examination of the airplane after recovery revealed the fuel tank was not ruptured. There was an odor of fuel in the fuel tank. No fuel was present in the fuel tank, and about one cup of water was present near the rear of the fuel tank.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,010 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 755 as pilot in command; 30 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 9 hours since
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2800-99W-CB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34J at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from JAX, 40 miles away
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.