20070114002259A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Tmpson NAVION G · El Centro, CA · January 14, 2007

Date: January 14, 2007 · 16:20 local
Place: El Centro, CA
Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3BP
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA07LA048
Reported as: Tmpson Naviong
Reported engine: Continental IO470H
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,100 total2,500 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N3BPRegistration cancelled Jun 6, 2008 · Navion NAVION GS/N NAV-4-2457 · Built 1962 Airframe modelNavion NAVION G Engine modelContinental I0-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Ucsd hospital interview conducted on 01/18/2007 at 1400 PST. The pilot privacy data omitted stated that he topped off the fuel tanks in salinas, CA prior to departure for douthitt airport. He stated that he changed fuel tanks (from the tip tank to the main tank) a few miles prior to landing as per the navion pilot operating handbook. He stated that during the landing approach (to the southwest) into douthitt airport, the afternoon sun was in his eyes and he was unsure whether he was lined up with the runway properly or would have sufficient runway remaining after touchdown. Therefore, he stated that he decided to go around. He stated that he added full throttle, retracted the landing gear, and shortly thereafter the engine sputtered and failed. He stated that he pitched the nose down for glide speed and told his wife (who was seated in the back seat) that they were about to crash. He then stated that he remembers being pulled out of the aircraft by an unknown person.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) UCSD HOSPITAL INTERVIEW CONDUCTED ON 01/18/2007 AT 1400 PST. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITT^ STATED THAT HE TOPPED OFF THE FUEL TANKS IN SALINAS, CA PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOR DOUTHITT AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT HE CHANGED FUEL TANKS (FROM THE TIP TANK TO THE MAIN TANK) A FEW MILES PRIOR TO LANDING AS PER THE NAVION PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK. HE STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING APPROACH (TO THE SOUTHWEST) INTO DOUTHITT AIRPORT, THE AFTERNOON SUN WAS IN HIS EYES AND HE WAS UNSURE WHETHER HE WAS LINED UP WITH THE RUNWAY PROPERLY OR WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THEREFORE, HE STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO GO AROUND. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED FULL THROTTLE, RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND FAILED. HE STATED THAT HE PITCHED THE NOSE DOWN FOR GLIDE SPEED AND TOLD HIS WIFE (WHO WAS SEATED IN THE BACK SEAT) THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO CRASH. HE THEN STATED THAT HE REMEMBERS BEING PULLED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA07LA048Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEl Centro, CAThe loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the glare from the sun.Jan 15, 2007 · Substantial damage