Santa Paula Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Paula, California 93060
Friday, August 9, 1985 16:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CFI, WHO WAS A RETIRED AIRLINE CAPTAIN, AND HIS STUDENT PILOT, EMBARKED ON A ROUND-ROBIN FLIGHT WHICH INCLUDED LANDINGS AT FOUR ARPTS. THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT COMPLETELY FILLED PRIOR TO TH INITIAL DEPARTURE AND NO ADDITIONAL FUEL WAS OBTAINED DURING THE 2.4 HOUR LONG FLIGHT. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AT TRAFFIC PATTERN ALT, ONE MILE FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE CFI WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY AND LANDED IN A SANDY RIVER BED 200 YARDS FROM THE ARPT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/9/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SANTA PAULA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93060
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 SANTA PAULA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SZP
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 130
Airport Elevation 245
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1600
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 2536
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1642
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30267
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 N3359V
NTSB Number LAX85LA346
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 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 15076473
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Oct 8 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 3755
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD P. SCHUTZE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 413 DEL NORTE
Aircraft Owner City OJAI
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93023
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AVIATION PRODUCTS, INC.
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 No
Departure Airport Code SMX
Departure City SANTA PAULA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1510
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SZP
Destination City SANTA PAULA
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 10:30AM
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 --