Pine Mountain Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Groveland, California 95321
Tuesady, August 22, 1995 15:13 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The engine sustained a loss of power shortly after departing on a local VFR maintenance test flight. Since there was no suitable area to land ahead, the pilot made a right turn in an attempt to return to the airport. He reported that he was unable to reach the airport. The last thing he recalled was that he tried to avoid a tree, just before impact (in a wooded area). Examination of the engine did not disclose any preexisting malfunction or failure. The fuel selector (handle) was found between the main and auxiliary fuel tank position; the fuel selector valve was found seized near a closed position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel starvation, due to the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1513
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City GROVELAND
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95321
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PINE MOUNTAIN LAKE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q68
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 2930
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1379
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1725
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8513H
NTSB Number LAX95LA301
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 NAVION
Aircraft Model A
Aircraft Series Identifier A
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-511
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 Aug 10 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 3000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RONALD P. DEAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 300 TAMPA #118
Aircraft Owner City TURLOCK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95382
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code Q68
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3625
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --