Byron Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Byron, California 94514
Saturday, March 16, 2013 13:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane’s engine began to sputter, and it subsequently lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing in a grass field, and, during the landing roll, the right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that fuel was present in both wing tanks, and no evidence of fuel contamination was found. An attempt to run the engine was unsuccessful because of discrepancies with the airplane’s electrical system, gascolator, and the engine’s starter. However, none of these discrepancies would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The cause of the engine failure could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Byron
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94514
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 374921N
Event Location Longitude 1213755W
Event Location Airport Byron Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C83
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 79
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID LVK
Elevation of weather observation facility 440
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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) 32792
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 13 2014 7:49PM
User who most recently changed record strj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N99DM
NTSB Number WPR13LA171
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-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 38-78A0487
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 May 17 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2782
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Rivair LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Dublin
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94568
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Leandro A. Rivera
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Livermore
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 94550
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 C83
Departure City Byron
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LVK
Destination City Livermore
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 13 2014 7:47PM
User who most recently changed record strj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --