Borges-Clarksburg Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clarksburg, California 95612
Thursday, May 14, 1998 18:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that prior to taking off for the planned 10-minute-long flight both fuel tanks contained over 5 gallons of fuel, and all airplane systems were functioning normally. The pilot arrived at his destination airport and entered the traffic pattern. Carburetor heat was applied, the throttle was retarded, and the airplane descended. After turning onto the base leg the pilot moved the throttle forward to increase engine power, and the engine 'blubbered and totally lost power.' Unable to glide to the runway, the pilot made a forced landing in a soft field adjacent to the airport, and the airplane nosed over. The FAA coordinator responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The FAA reported it examined the powerplant, induction system, engine controls, and magnetos. The ignition switch and the carburetor were also functionally examined. No evidence was found of any mechanical malfunctions. The reason for the interruption of engine power was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined non-mechanical reasons. A contributing factor in the landing nose-over was the presence of the soft terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CLARKSBURG
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95612
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BORGES-CLARKSBURG
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C14
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 12
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 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) 1141
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 14 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1904
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N198TP
NTSB Number LAX98LA157
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-160
Aircraft Serial Number 22-5625
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 May 14 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2779
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOT ASSN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 421 AVIATION WAY
Aircraft Owner City FREDERICK
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL S. PAVAO
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11481 HIGHWAY 160
Operator City COURTLAND
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95615
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 SAC
Departure City SACRAMENTO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1750
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code C14
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 9
Runway Length 2335
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --