Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Durham, California 95938
Saturday, September 8, 2012 12:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On September 8, 2012 at 1215 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft, Inc., A-1B, N395AA, experienced a loss of engine power on takeoff and the pilot made a forced landing into an orchard near Durham, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The commercial pilot and passenger received minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage in the post impact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that was destined for the Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN), Auburn, California. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot’s written statement, the engine start and run-up were normal. Shortly after taking off, he heard a pop sound followed by a loss of power/lift. The airplane subsequently collided with trees in an orchard. He and his passenger observed a fire, and evacuated the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Durham
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95938
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394110N
Event Location Longitude 1214736W
Event Location Airport Lake
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 200
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID CIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 240
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
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) 29.98
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA WP 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 Sep 27 2012 3:38PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N395AA
NTSB Number WPR12LA406
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC
Aircraft Model A-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2395
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 5 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 292
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name FALCON FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City AUBURN
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95603-2536
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name FALCON FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City AUBURN
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95603-2536
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Durham
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AUN
Destination City Auburn
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2012 3:38PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --