Modesto City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Modesto, California 95354
Friday, August 9, 1996 13:05 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the two 28.8 gallon capacity fuel tanks were both full upon takeoff for her participation in the Palms-to-Pines air race. After flying for 2:10 hours the pilot arrived at Modesto, and she made a low pass over the field for timing purposes. During the go-around, all engine power was suddenly lost and the pilot attempted to land on a street. On approach, the airplane collided with power lines. The airplane impacted the street, and a fuel-fed fire erupted as the airplane slid to a stop. The pilot reported that she anticipated the fuel burn off rate during the flight was about 11.9 gallons per hour. She did not recall switching fuel tanks during the flight. No mechanical malfunctions were found during the postimpact engine examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel starvation due to the pilot's inadequate fuel management and failure to reposition the fuel selector to a tank containing adequate fuel. The power lines were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/9/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MODESTO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95354
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MODESTO CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MOD
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 --
Airport Elevation 97
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1303 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MOD
Elevation of weather observation facility 97
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 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) 1485
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6087N
NTSB Number LAX96LA302
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model B23
Aircraft Series Identifier B23
Aircraft Serial Number M-1179
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 20 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 2302
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JILL A. BAKER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7962 MISSION VISTA DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SAN DIEGO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92120
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 No
Departure Airport Code SMO
Departure City SANTA MONICA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MOD
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
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 28R
Runway Length 5911
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --