Agua Dulce Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Agua Dulce, California 91350
Saturday, October 12, 1996 12:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot experience a total loss of power when beginning a descent. He reported that the fuel analyzer gauge showed that 1.5 hours of fuel was remaining, but the fuel quantity gauges were erratic. The pilot received radar vectors toward an airport, but he was unable to see it and elected to land on a road. Examination of the wreckage disclosed that there was about 1 gallon of fuel in the fuel system. The fuel tanks were not compromised. The upper surface of the left wing disclosed numerous orange/brownish streaks aft of the fuel cap. The right wing did not display any fuel streaking aft of the fuel cap. The left wing fuel tank was pressurized with water and water leaked from the cap. The right wing fuel cap was put on the left wing fuel tank. Water did not leak from the tank with the right wing fuel cap installed. The left wing fuel cap seal was brittle. Examination of the engine logbooks disclosed that the applicable airworthiness directive for the fuel cap was complied with about 33 hours before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

inadequate compliance with the applicable airworthiness directive by other maintenance personnel, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in fuel exhaustion from a deteriorated fuel cap seal.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/12/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City AGUA DULCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91350
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AGUA DULCE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 225
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1251
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PMD
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1598
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 12 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1835
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4924D
NTSB Number LAX97LA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182A
Aircraft Series Identifier 182A
Aircraft Serial Number 18251024
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Aug 11 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 5691
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CRUZ ACEVEDO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9475 ALTA MESA
Aircraft Owner City WILTON
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95693
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEONARD MARR
Operator Same as Owner? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WILTON
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TOA
Destination City TORRANCE
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --