Lincoln Muni. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lincoln, California 95648
Sunday, April 19, 1987 8:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AFTER A LOSS OF PWR DURING T/O CLIMB AT APRX 350 TO 400 FT AGL. THE PLT DESCRIBED THE LOSS OF PWR AS 'LIKE TAKING THE THROTTLE AND PULLING OFF IN A RAPID MOTION.' HE NOTICED DURING HIS PREFLT CHECK THAT THE FUEL IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK (RMT) WAS LIGHTER BLUE IN COLOR THAN THAT OF THE LEFT MAIN TANK (LMT). HE TOOK 2 SAMPLES FROM THE RMT DURING THE PREFLT AND DURING THE ENG RUN-UP, RAN THE ENG 5 ADD MIN UNTIL ALL THE GAUGES WERE 'IN THE GREEN.' THE ACFT TOOK OFF WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE RMT POSITION. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A RESTART WHILE EXECUTING A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE INDICATED THAT HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE RMT TO THE LMT AND CHECKED THAT THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS STILL ON. THE RMT WAS RUPTURED AS RESULT OF THE IMPACT AND ALL THE FUEL ESCAPED INTO THE DITCH. THE ENG WAS EXAMINED AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF MECHANICAL FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 840
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City LINCOLN
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95648
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LINCOLN MUNI.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 051
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 119
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 755 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MCC
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
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 25000
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1983
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1005
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35412
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15259
NTSB Number LAX87LA182
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 327340026
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 19 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 1228
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SMITH, HUEY P
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8440 RANCHITA WAY
Aircraft Owner City FAIR OAKS
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95628
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VUKICH, RONALD R.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8449 RANCHITA WAY
Operator City FAIR OAKS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95628
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 835
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RNO
Destination City RENO
Destination State NV
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 33
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --