Hood River Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hood River, Oregon 97031
Sunday, August 28, 1994 11:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement, the pilot reported that everything was normal for engine start and run-up. But, during the takeoff ground run, the left engine momentarily expereinced a partial loss of power and then regained full power again. The pilot continued the take off, but immediately after the airplane became airborne, the left engine again experienced a partial loss of power. The airplane yawed to the left, began to lose altitude and airspeed, and then began an uncommanded roll to the left. The pilot then reduced both throttles to idle as the aircraft descended into a pear orchard, where it impacted the ground in a nose down 'semi-level' attitude. During the post crash inspection, it was found that the left fuel selector was positioned in the 'off' quadrant, about half-way between the center of the quadrant and the edge of the 'left main' guadrant. The right fuel selector was positioned in the 'right main' quadrant.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to insure that the fuel selector was in the proper position which resulted in fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City HOOD RIVER
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97031
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HOOD RIVER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4S2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 631
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1200 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 83
Weather Observation Facility ID DLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 243
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1985
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1666
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9833L
NTSB Number SEA94LA223
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 320B
Aircraft Series Identifier 320B
Aircraft Serial Number 320B0033
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 6 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KNOLL MOTOR CO. INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1105 12TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City HOOD RIVER
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97031
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KNOLL, RONALD K.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2600 BELMONT
Operator City HOOD RIVER
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97031
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 1128
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BFI
Destination City SEATTLE
Destination State WA
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 3040
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --