Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Simi Valley, California 93065
Friday, August 30, 1985 17:36 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. THE STUDENT PLT STATED THE FLT WAS NORMAL UNTIL A 'VIOLENT RIGHT YAW' DEVELOPED WHEN THE TROTTLES WERE ADVANCED TO RECOVER FROM A PRACTICE STALL. AS THE CFI TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND ATTEPTED RECOVERY A 'SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF POWER' OCCURRED ON BOTH ENGS. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FLD DURING WHICH THE LEFT WING CONTACTED TREES AND THE ACFT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENG FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY DISCREPANCIES. DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED ON THE RIGHT ENG. 1) THE FUEL CONTROLLER FUEL LINE 'TEE' FITTING WAS CRACKED AROUND 50% OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. (DUCTILE OVERLOAD) 2) THE TURBOCHARGER GASKET ON THE INLET SIDE OF THE TURBINE SHOWED LEAKAGE AOUND 70% OF THE GASKET ARE. THE ACFT HAD A HISTORY OF SYMPTOMS OF FUEL VAPORIZATION WHICH SUBSIDED WITH USE OF THE AUX FUEL PUMP AS THE ENG MANUFACTORER SUGGESTS. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE AUX PUMP WAS USED DURING THIS ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1736
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SIMI VALLEY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93065
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 1721
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 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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1857
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1736
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29238
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6490V
NTSB Number LAX85FA376
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model T303
Aircraft Series Identifier T303
Aircraft Serial Number T30300312
Certified Max Gross Weight 5000
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 23 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAYMOND J. RISHER,P.F.MARGO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1900 AVE.OF THE STARS #2870
Aircraft Owner City CENTURY CITY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90067
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GUNNELL AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3000 AIRPORT AVENUE
Operator City SANTA MONICA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90405
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 No
Departure Airport Code SMO
Departure City SANTA MONICA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1645
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 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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --