Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Borrego Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Borrego Springs, California 92004
Sunday, February 6, 1994 15:28 PST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
While in cruise, the pilot noticed that his engine began running roughly. He made a precautionary landing at a nearby airport, but was unable to identify the problem. A second ground run-up developed only 2,100 rpm's at full throttle. He then called the operator. After a discussion, he decided that if the engine performance improved, he would fly back. On the next run-up, the rpm improved in the 2,200-to-2,300 rpm range, and the pilot felt this was fine for takeoff. The takeoff roll seemed slower than normal, so he decided to climb over the airport in case of an emergency. On climbout at 100-to-200 feet agl, the engine again began running roughly. He began a shallow turn back toward the runway, and lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft stalled, impacted the ground, and nosed over. An inspection of the engine showed the rocker arm boss on the No. 1 cylinder had fractured due to fatigue cracking. Lab analysis showed the boss was welded during cylinder overhaul, a procedure not allowed by Continental.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
1) the pilot's decision to takeoff in an aircraft with a known, yet unresolved, engine performance deficiency, and 2) the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering back to the runway. A factor in the accident was the weld repair of the cylinder head rocker arm boss during overhaul, which led to a fatigue failure of the component.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 2/6/1994 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 1528 |
| Event Time Zone | Pacific Standard Time |
| Event City | BORREGO SPRINGS |
| Event State | CALIFORNIA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 92004 |
| Event Date Year | 1994 |
| Event Date Month | 2 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | |
| Event Location Longitude | |
| Event Location Airport | BORREGO VALLEY |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | L08 |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 520 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1452 Pacific Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 10 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | TRM |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 117 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 27 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | PST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 27000 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 16000 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Scattered |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | 0 |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | 0 |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 30 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 22 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 4 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 120 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Unknown |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Serious |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | 1 |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 204 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | Feb 6 1994 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1709 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Dec 6 2000 10:40AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N8855S |
| NTSB Number | LAX94LA114 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | N |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | CESSNA |
| Aircraft Model | 150F |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | 150F |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 15062155 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 1600 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 2 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Aug 30 1993 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 92 |
| Airframe Hours | 7053 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | DAVID C. BRATTON/ JOEL D. LUTH |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | P.O. BOX 90895 |
| Aircraft Owner City | SAN DIEGO |
| Aircraft Owner State | CA |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 92109 |
| Operator is an individual? | -- |
| Operator Name | PLUS ONE FLYERS, INC. |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | 3417 HUGO ST. |
| Operator City | SAN DIEGO |
| Operator State | CA |
| Operator Country | |
| Operator Zip code | 92106 |
| Operator Code | |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | Unknown |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | -- |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | -- |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | -- |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | |
| Departure City | |
| Departure State | |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 1528 |
| Departure Time Zone | PST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | MYF |
| Destination City | SAN DIEGO |
| Destination State | CA |
| Destination Country | |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Takeoff |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jan 2 2001 10:34AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 25 |
| Runway Length | 5000 |
| Runway Width | 75 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |