Van Nuys Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Van Nuys, California 91406
Thursday, October 14, 1993 18:58 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. WHEN THE PILOT WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ADVISED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER AND WAS CLEARED FOR A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO NEGOTIATE THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 2.1 GALLONS. THE TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY IS 26 GALLONS OF WHICH 22.5 GALLONS ARE USABLE. DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation and fuel consumption calculations. Fuel exhaustion is a factor in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/14/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1858
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VAN NUYS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91406
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport VAN NUYS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VNY
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 340
Airport Elevation 799
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1901 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID VNY
Elevation of weather observation facility 799
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1453
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 14 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1908
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:42PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N150GS
NTSB Number LAX94LA013
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 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15073824
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SUSSEX AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7614 HAYVENHURST AVE.
Aircraft Owner City VAN NUYS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91406
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IGM
Departure City KINGMAN
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code VNY
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 16R
Runway Length 8001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --