Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Victorville, California 92393
Saturday, April 15, 1989 12:27 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT OWNER WAS NOT A PILOT AND ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF A LOCAL PILOT TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT FROM A MAINTENANCE FACILITY TO ITS HOME BASE. THE PILOT ASSUMED THAT THE OWNER WAS A PILOT THAT JUST WAS NOT CURRENT AND OBSERVED THE OWNER CONDUCT THE PREFLIGHT. THE PILOT VERBALLY CONFIRMED THE ADEQUACY OF FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT WITH THE OWNER. THE OWNER ESTIMATED ONE HALF TANKS BY FUEL GAUGE, VISUAL, AND DIP STICK INDICATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL ON BOARD AFTER THE FORCED LANDING AND THE DEPARTURE FUEL WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 10 GALLONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND ASSURE THE PROPER QUANTITY OF FUEL ON BOARD FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/15/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1227
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City VICTORVILLE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92393
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID VCV
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 638
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 15 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1352
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40148
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8174T
NTSB Number LAX89LA161
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 175
Aircraft Series Identifier 175
Aircraft Serial Number 17556874
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BRUFFETT, BLAIR A., SR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 34870 WOODHAM
Operator City BARSTOW
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92311
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 LO5
Departure City KERNVILLE
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DAG
Destination City DAGGETT
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --