Camarillo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Camarillo, California 93010
Monday, July 11, 1994 13:44 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that about 2 miles from the airport he heard the engine 'missing,' and shortly thereafter, it 'began to die.' He made a radio call to the tower reporting engine problems and was cleared for an approach to either runway. The pilot stated that as he approached the airport, he felt uncertain whether or not he had sufficient altitude to reach the runway, but continued in that direction. The aircraft landed in a field 2,000 feet from the runway and came to rest inverted. A postaccident inspection revealed only a few teaspoons of fuel in the carburetor and gascolator. Less than 2 gallons of fuel was found in the left tank, while the right tank contained 5 to 6 gallons. The fuel selector was found on the left tank. The pilot said he took off with the fuel selector on the left tank and did not switch tanks at any point during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel starvation due to improper fuel management by the pilot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1344
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CAMARILLO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93010
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CAMARILLO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CMA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 75
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1344 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CMA
Elevation of weather observation facility 75
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 281
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1401
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:43AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N353H
NTSB Number LAX94LA281
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 SAM HALE
Aircraft Model LONG-EZ
Aircraft Series Identifier LONG-EZ
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 1325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 19 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 317
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WARREN GEORGE FEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 581 RACQUET CLUB
Aircraft Owner City THOUSAND OAKS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91360
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WARREN GEORGE FEE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 581 RACQUET CLUB LANE
Operator City THOUSAND OAKS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91360
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 1300
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 8
Runway Length 6010
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --