Santa Paula Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Paula, California 93060
Sunday, April 16, 1989 10:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE HIGH VEGETATION DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING, LANDING GEAR, AND FUSELAGE. THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN AND INSPECTED. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE TEMPERATURE 60 DEGS, DEWPOINT 40 DEGS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOTS IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS THAT WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SANTA PAULA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93060
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 SANTA PAULA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SZP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 245
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 5
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 302
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 16 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38844
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 N84745
NTSB Number LAX89LA162
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 AERONCA
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7AC
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-3458
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 19 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 4100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCHUTZE, CURT K
Aircraft Owner Street Address 232 CALIFORNIA ST.
Aircraft Owner City SANTA PAULA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93060
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SANTA PAULA FLIGHT CENTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 857
Operator City SANTA PAULA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93060
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 4
Runway Length 2650
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --