Fullerton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fullerton, California 92634
Tuesady, February 26, 1991 16:17 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT FILLED THE AIRPLANE'S GAS TANKS WITH ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL FROM UNFILTERED GASOLINE CANS. HE THEN FAILED TO DO AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. SHORTLY AFTER EXECUTING A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABEAM THE TOWER THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT ONE HALF CUP OF WATER. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS WATER IN THE FUEL TANK.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/26/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1617
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City FULLERTON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92634
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FULLERTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FUL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1617 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID FUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 96
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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) 974
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44820
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3724P
NTSB Number LAX91LA113
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-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22-3442
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3427
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEVEN D. BERGGREN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7927 G. BAUER RD.
Aircraft Owner City ANAHEIM HILLS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92808
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLARENCE MIXON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1138 N. LOTUS
Operator City ANAHEIM HILLS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92801
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1616
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L66
Destination City CORONA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --