Thermal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Thermal, California 92274
Saturday, September 13, 1986 14:07 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO PUT 'SOME BREAK IN TIME' ON A NEWLY INSTALLED ENGINE CYLINDER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE' DEPARTED WITH A LOW FUEL LEVEL BUT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE UP FOR A LITTLE WHILE.' AFTER 40 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT ONE HALF MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED 'ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL' REMAINED IN BOTH WING TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/13/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1407
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City THERMAL
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92274
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport THERMAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TRM
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1315 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TRM
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 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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2093
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1701
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 13 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1707
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32132
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N917Q
NTSB Number LAX86LA348
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model 35-B33
Aircraft Series Identifier 35-B33
Aircraft Serial Number CD-408
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 Sep 3 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRUCE E. KANDARIAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 147
Aircraft Owner City COACHELLA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92236
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1318
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --