Amateur-built VANS RV-6 accident near Emmett, Idaho, October 20, 1999
On October 20, 1999 at about 10:18 pm local time, a amateur-built VANS RV-6, registered N541JT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Emmett, Idaho (Emmett Muni airport). 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 improper fuel management, resulting in fuel starvation. A factor was the aircraft's low altitude at the time engine power was lost.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1999 · about 10:18 pm local time
- Place
- Emmett, Idaho · Emmett Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV-6
- Registration
- N541JT · registry record · serial 24884
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on short final approach at an altitude of approximately 150 feet above ground level, the left fuel tank ran dry and the engine lost power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine. The engine would not start and the pilot performed a forced landing into a pasture. During the forced landing, the right main landing gear and wing were damaged. Post-accident examination disclosed that the aircraft's right fuel tank was full and its left fuel tank was empty. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved.
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
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 318 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 94 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1998; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S78 at 9:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.