Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Moreno Valley, California 92552
Saturday, June 26, 2010 7:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that as he entered the vicinity of his destination airport, he decided the reduced visibility prohibited him from safely continuing. He opted to divert to an alternate airport to maintain visual conditions. While en route to the alternate airport, the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated a forced landing into a field. The airplane collided with terrain during the landing, damaging the firewall. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine. He further stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had a larger fuel reserve.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Moreno Valley
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92552
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 335620N
Event Location Longitude 1171328W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 656 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 267
Weather Observation Facility ID KAJO
Elevation of weather observation facility 533
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27209
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2010 1:35PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8118A
NTSB Number WPR10CA348
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-236
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8011028
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 6 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 1473
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name MACKEL NEALAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BULLHEAD CITY
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86426
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MACKEL NEALAN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BULLHEAD CITY
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 86426
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 KA20
Departure City Bullhead City
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KAJO
Destination City Corona
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2010 1:36PM
User who most recently changed record johb
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 --