Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grants Pass, Oregon 97526
Monday, February 26, 1990 17:20 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON THE FLIGHT WITHOUT A CAP INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE ENGINE QUIT WHEN THE SUPPLY OF FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED. THE ACFT STALLED, ENTERED A SPIN, DESCENDED NOSE DOWN AND IMPACTED TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH RESULTED FROM THE PILOTS INTENTIONALLY OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY. THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN A STALL/SPIN AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/26/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1720
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City GRANTS PASS
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97526
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID MFR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1331
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2090
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 369
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 26 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41304
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7131
NTSB Number SEA90FA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BURTON
Aircraft Model CAVALIER MODEL 2
Aircraft Series Identifier CAVALIER M
Aircraft Serial Number 6864
Certified Max Gross Weight 1730
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAY E. FRANCE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1794 WINDY CREEK ROAD
Aircraft Owner City GLENDALE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97442
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3S8
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --