Sunset Skyranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elk Grove, California 95624
Wednesday, November 6, 1996 16:05 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft's last annual inspection was dated 3/10/87. On 11/6/96, the pilot initiated a flight to ferry it to another airport, where maintenance could be performed. During the initial climb after takeoff, he engine lost power at about 300 feet agl, and during a forced landing, the aircraft came to rest in a farm pond. An examination by an FAA inspector revealed engine and flight control continuity. Fuel was found in both fuel tanks, and no evidence of contaminants were found in the fuel. All fuel lines, oil lines, engine fuel injection lines, exhaust system, and engine ignition system appeared intact. After recovery of the aircraft, no anomalies were noted. FAA inspectors reported that the '. . . aircraft records could not demonstrate a clear picture of airworthiness directive (AD) completion.' In 1985, the pilot had voluntarily surrendered his pilot's certificate instead of retesting for a failed proficiency check.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s) after takeoff. The lack of maintenance/annual inspection was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/6/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1605
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City ELK GROVE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95624
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SUNSET SKYRANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q40
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 54
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MHR
Elevation of weather observation facility 96
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
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) 30
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1550
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 6 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1923
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:27AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N30115
NTSB Number LAX97LA038
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 210L
Aircraft Series Identifier 210L
Aircraft Serial Number 21059884
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 10 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2879
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT M. LUNSFORD, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5901 BRIARWOOD CT.
Aircraft Owner City FARMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT M. LUNSFORD, SR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 431 POPLAR AVENUE
Operator City SACRAMENTO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95691
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code Q40
Departure City
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2Q3
Destination City DAVIS
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 11
Runway Length 2780
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --