Columbia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbia, California 95310
Tuesady, July 6, 1993 14:10 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot topped off both fuel tanks prior to departure and arrived at the destination in three hours, with a calculated two hours of fuel remaining. The pilot was high on final approach and chose to go-around. He applied full power, established a positive rate of climb and retracted the flaps. While still on the upwind, the engine sputtered, and, about one to two seconds later, the engine sputtered again and quit. The pilot attempted to land on a road after a descending left turn and collided with telephone wires. Both fuel tanks were damaged in the impact sequence and all fuel was lost. Examination of the aircraft and engine revealed no discrepancies. The engine was successfully test run after minor installation repairs. Temperature and dew point information were obtained from three nearby locations, and, according to an icing probability chart, there was a possibility of light carburetor icing in glide conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/6/1993
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City COLUMBIA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95310
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COLUMBIA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O22
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 190
Airport Elevation 2075
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1351 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID SCK
Elevation of weather observation facility 30
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1048
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 6 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1450
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3837N
NTSB Number LAX93LA278
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7790545
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 22 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 6657
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WIND AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1771 LACUESTA DR.
Aircraft Owner City SANTA ANA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92705
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR DESERT PACIFIC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1805 MCKINLEY WAY
Operator City LA VERNE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91750
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 POC
Departure City LA VERNE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight 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 17
Runway Length 4670
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --