ATL82DA166

Factual narrative

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM NEWPORT NEWS, VA ON A VFR FLIGHT TO SOUTH BOSTON, VA. LATER AT DUSK, HE CONTACTED THE ROANOKE FSS AND ASKED FOR AN "ACCURATE FIX" OF HIS POSITION.AT THAT TIME, THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. FSS PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE PLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSPONDER AND WAS BELOW THE ACQUISITION ALTITUDE FOR RADAR IDENTIFICATION. THEREFORE, THE PILOT WAS REQUESTED TO TUNE THE VOR FOR RADIAL CROSS CHECKS. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE WAS PROVIDED VECTORS TO THE AIRPORT AT LYNCHBURG, VA. DURING ARRIVAL, THE PILOT GAVE WAY TO ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE FSS. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PLANE WAS LANDED ABOUT 100 FT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT VISUALLY INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS BEFORE DEPARTING NEWPORT NEWS. ALSO, HE VERIFIED THAT HE WAS TRACKING INBOUND TO SOUTH BOSTON WHEN HE CONTACTED THE FSS IN FLIGHT, AND THAT HE WAS NOT LOST. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12