Porterville Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Porterville, California 93257
Thursday, November 27, 2008 9:25 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions, the flight entered the ground fog layer at 1,300 feet mean sea level (msl) and continued descending to the minimum descent altitude of 980 feet msl. Upon reaching the minimum descent altitude, the pilot asked his passengers if "they saw anything." The pilot stated that he "saw a few breaks." As the airplane neared the missed approach point, the pilot further reported that he declared a missed approach and applied full power. He stated that the engine did not respond and made an unusual sound "like a car would make if its automatic transmission would not grab." The pilot added that he was not getting power and briefed his passengers to brace themselves. Shortly thereafter, the airplane struck trees and the ground within an orange orchard. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller assemblies revealed no related preimpact mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/27/2008
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 925
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Porterville
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93257
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360146N
Event Location Longitude 1190345W
Event Location Airport Porterville Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PTV
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 --
Airport Elevation 442
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 935 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID PTV
Elevation of weather observation facility 442
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25532
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2009 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N936EW
NTSB Number WPR09LA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Aircraft Model G36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number E-3645
Certified Max Gross Weight 3663
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 10 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 390
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Solar One Systems LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1000 E WILLIAM ST STE 204
Aircraft Owner City Carson City
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89701
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Thomas Werle
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Corona Del Mar
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92625
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 --
Departure City Redlands
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 826
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PTV
Destination City Porterville
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2009 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --