Big Bear Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Bear, California 92315
Sunday, June 19, 1994 19:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND DITCHED INTO A LAKE OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND HEARD THE ENGINE MISSING AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE COWLING AREA. THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE MAGNETO WAS REPLACED WITH AN OVERHAULED UNIT 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE MAGNETO FOUND THAT THE OIL SLINGER RING WAS LOOSE WHICH ALLOWED THE LUBRICATING OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE TO ENTER THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE MAGNETO. THE SPARK PLUGS THEN FAILED TO FIRE PROPERLY RESULTING IN A RICH MIXTURE AND SUBSEQUENT SMOKE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power from a malfunctioning magneto due to a loose oil seal in an overhauled magneto.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/19/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1940
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BIG BEAR
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92315
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BIG BEAR
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L35
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 260
Airport Elevation 765
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1846
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID ONT
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 8000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1425
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 19 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N201NK
NTSB Number LAX94LA260
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 MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier M20J
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0303
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 17 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 3428
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID R. AXELROD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1355 LAUREL AVE., APT. 8
Aircraft Owner City LOS ANGELES
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90046
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HARRY KILPATRICK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1355 LAUREL AVE., APT. 8
Operator City LOS ANGELES
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90046
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 L35
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SMO
Destination City SANTA MONICA
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 26
Runway Length 5850
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --