Riverside Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Redlands, California 92373
Saturday, March 31, 2001 11:33 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to taking off for the accident flight the fuel tanks had been refueled. While cruising about 13 minutes later, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot reported that no vibration was felt prior to the power loss. In an attempt at restoring engine power, the pilot applied the carburetor heat, changed the mixture setting, and repositioned the ignition key. None of his actions were successful, and he made a forced landing about 1.5 miles north-northeast of his destination. During the landing rollout in rough terrain, the airplane collided with a berm. The airplane was subsequently examined. During the teardown inspection of the engine and accessories, no evidence of any preimpact malfunction was noted. Both the carburetor finger screen and the gascolator fuel screen were observed clear. The magnetos were functional. The carburetor heat control worked. The reason for the non-mechanical total loss of engine power was not determined. The airplane was manufactured in 1946.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight over rough terrain for undetermined non-mechanical reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/31/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1133
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Redlands
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92373
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340634N
Event Location Longitude 1170824W
Event Location Airport Riverside Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RAL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1.6
Degrees magnetic from airport 350
Airport Elevation 818
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID BUO
Elevation of weather observation facility 2219
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11751
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2002 12:16PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO Riverside, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8158K
NTSB Number LAX01LA131
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Stinson
Aircraft Model 108-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 108-1158
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Feb 19 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 3508
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Chester M. Ugalde
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Churchill
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89406
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Sultzbaugh
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Calimesa
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92320
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code BNG
Departure City BANNING
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1120
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L12
Destination City REDLANDS
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 18 2002 1:16PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 4505
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --