# Accident 19971011033529A: Amtr GLASAIRIII, Desert Center, CA, October 11, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 11, 1997, 13:15 local time
- Place: Desert Center, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7600° N, 115.4697° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7600&lon=-115.4697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N153JC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AMTR GLASAIRIII
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,490 total, 11 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971011033529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: PILOT REPORTED THEY LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE FLYING FROM PHOENIX, AZ TO SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE LOSS OF POWER WAS ALTERNATOR FAILURE. BOTH OF THE AIRCRAFT'S BATTERY WERE DRAINED OF POWER. THE PILOT DESCENDED AND LOCATED A DIRT ROAD NEAR EAGLE MOUNTAIN AIRPORT. THE PILOT LANDED WITH THE LANDING GEAR IN THE UP POSITION. NOTE: THIS AIRCRAFT HAD DUAL ELECTRONIC IGNITION. (.19) ELECTRICAL FAILURE (.4) THE AIRCRAFT IS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL ELECTRONIC IGNITION INSTEAD OF MAGNETOS. AFTER LEVELING OFF ON TOP, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HIS PANEL INDICATED A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER.  AFTER THE BATTERY WAS DEPLETED, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO IMC CONDITIONS.  AFTER BREAKING OUT, HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BERM AND SLID TO A STOP.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR SWITCH WAS ON AND THAT THE ALTERNATOR OUT WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO HIS ELECTRICAL LOSS.  AFTER RECOVERY, THE BATTERIES WERE CHARGED AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. WHEN THE ALTERNATOR SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE ALTERNATOR OUT WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE.  THE CONTINUITY OF THE LIGHT BULB WAS CONFIRMED.  THE LIGHT SOC KET FAILED A SIMILAR CONTINUITY CHECK. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO CHECKED THE PILOT OUT IN THE AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT ALWAYS USE THE CHECKLIST AND HAD FORGOTTEN TO TURN THE ALTERNATOR SWITCH ON BEFORE STARTING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. (.4) THE AIRCRAFT IS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL ELECTRONIC IGNITION INSTEAD OF MAGNETOS.  AFTER LEVELING OFF ON TOP, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HIS PANEL INDICATED A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER.  AFTER THE BATTERY WAS DEPLETED, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO IMC CONDITIONS.  AFTER BREAKING OUT, HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BERM AND SLID TO A STOP.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR SWITCH WAS ON AND THAT THE ALTERNATOR OUT WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO HIS ELECTRICAL LOSS.  AFTER RECOVERY, THE BATTERIES WERE CHARGED AND THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. WHEN THE ALTERNATOR SWITCH WAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE ALTERNATOR OUT WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE.  THE CONTINUITY OF THE LIGHT BULB WAS CONFIRMED.  THE LIGHT SOCKET FAILED A SIMILAR CONTINUITY CHECK.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO CHECKED THE PILOT OUT IN THE AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT ALWAYS USE THE CHECKLIST AND HAD FORGOTTEN TO TURN THE ALTERN ATOR SWITCH ON BEFORE STARTING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA025), Oct 11, 1997: Ciernia GLASAIR-III (N153JC), Desert Center, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the eventual loss of electrical power which resulted from the pilot's failure to ensure the alternator switch was on as specified in the before starting checklist. The…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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