Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ramona, California 92065
Saturday, July 13, 1991 23:55 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER REFUELING THE ACFT WITH A REDUCED FUEL LOAD THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT TOOKOFF FOR HIS DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVAL HE ADDED A REDUCED AMOUNT OF FUEL BASED ON HIS ORIGINAL CALCULATIONS. ON HIS RETURN NIGHT FLT THE FOLLOWING NIGHT HE RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING, FILED A VFR FLT PLAN AND DEPARTED FOR HIS HOME ARPT. WHEN APPROACHING THE DESTINATION ARPT HE DETERMINED THE WX WAS BELOW VMC AND ELECTED TO LAND AT AN ENROUTE ARPT. DURING THE DESCENT THE ACFT'S ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENTERED GND FOG PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH AN UNOCCUPIED HOUSE AND A PROPANE TANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OR ON THE GROUND ADJACENT TO IT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING PREPARATION AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, FORCED LANDING AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH A RESIDENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2355
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City RAMONA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92065
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2355 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 305
Weather Observation Facility ID NFG
Elevation of weather observation facility 78
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1681
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45558
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7893N
NTSB Number LAX91LA311
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COASTAL FLIERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 12540
Aircraft Owner City EL CAJON
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92022
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COASTAL FLIERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 12540
Operator City EL CAJON
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92022
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 Q68
Departure City MARIPOSA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SEE
Destination City EL CAJON
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --