San Rafael Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Rafael, California 94903
Monday, August 30, 2004 17:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During initial climb between 100 and 200 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine lost all power due to fuel starvation. The pilot made a forced landing in a marsh about 1/4-mile beyond the runway's departure end. After the airplane came to rest upside down in the 2- to 4-foot-deep marsh, the pilot extricated himself and waded to the shore. The pilot had refueled his airplane just before takeoff. During takeoff, full engine power was initially developed with the fuel selector positioned to the "Both" tanks position. Following the accident when the airplane was examined, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction was noted. The engine's electric fuel pump switch was observed in the "OFF" position. The pump switch was required to be "ON" during takeoff. During the initial climb, the engine driven fuel pump likely had not pumped sufficient fuel to the engine to maintain power, which resulted in fuel starvation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation, which was caused by the pilot's failure to turn on the electric boost pump and an undetermined failure of the engine driven pump to supply sufficient fuel to the carburetor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/2004
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1735
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City San Rafael
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94903
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 380118N
Event Location Longitude 1223048W
Event Location Airport San Rafael
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CA35
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 230
Airport Elevation 5
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1756 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID SFO
Elevation of weather observation facility 13
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19365
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1821
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2006 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO Oakland, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N44MH
NTSB Number LAX04LA308
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 Rockwell
Aircraft Model 112TCA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 13308
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Aug 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 83
Airframe Hours 1820
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James L. Thomas, III
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City San Rafael
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94901
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code CA35
Departure City San Rafael
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1735
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0Q9
Destination City SONOMA
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 5 2006 4:47PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --