Lompoc Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lompoc, California 93436
Tuesady, July 12, 1988 14:12 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT PLANNED A SHORT X-C FLIGHT. AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL DURING INITIAL CLIMB, HE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PLT TRANSMITTED A DISTRESS MESSAGE OVER UNICOM, STALLED, ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT & CRASHED 1/2 MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE PILOT HAD 88 HRS OF FLT EXPERIENCE IN THIS ACFT. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED HE HAD BEEN USING AUTO FUEL IN AT LEAST ONE TANK & AVIATION FUEL IN ANOTHER TANK. FUEL WAS WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IN THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE CARBURETOR. ON 6-29-88, A MECHANIC WHO HAD INSPECTED THE ACFT, WROTE IT UP AS 'DISAPPROVED FOR RETURN TO SERVICE'. HE HAD FOUND OIL LEAKS AND CYLINDER HEADS THAT APPEARED CRACKED. NO EVIDENCE OF MAINTENANCE WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT LOGS BETWEEN 6/29 & 7/12.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL OPERATION OF AN AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT, HIS IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/12/1988
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1412
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City LOMPOC
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93436
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LOMPOC
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LPC
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 240
Airport Elevation 88
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1500 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LPC
Elevation of weather observation facility 88
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 800
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2353
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 12 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1455
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39067
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27EB
NTSB Number LAX88FA252
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model A35
Aircraft Series Identifier A35
Aircraft Serial Number D-1961
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 23 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 4315
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH A. VANNI, SR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3001 LAKE EAST DR. #2222
Aircraft Owner City LAS VEGAS
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89117
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ANZA MOBILE PARK #46
Operator City ANZA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92306
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 LPC
Departure City LOMPOC
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1411
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HMT
Destination City HEMIT
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 25
Runway Length 3600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --