# Accident 20140808016429A: Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J250-SP, Bakersfield, CA, August 8, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2014, 12:24 local time
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3247° N, 118.9958° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3247&lon=-118.9958&mi=10
- Aircraft: N526FL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N526FL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP (registry code 060001T, https://openairdocs.org/model/jabiru-usa-sport-j250-sp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34801, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JABIRU USA SPORT AIRCRAFT LLC J250-SP
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,600 total, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14CA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140808016429A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS TRAVELING FROM NEVADA COUNTY AIRPORT (GOO) TO WHITEMAN AIRPORT (WHP).  THE PILOT DEPARTED GOO WITH FULL FUEL TANKS.  THE PLANE WAS FILLED BY NEVADA COUNTY AIR PARK WITCH TOPPED THE PLANE OFF WITH 100LL, 6.9 GALLONS WERE PUT INTO THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT WAS CLIMBING TO 7,500 FEET ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTH OF BAKERSFIELD WHEN HE NOTICED HIS FUEL INDICATION WAS BETWEEN 0-6 GALLONS ON THE LEFT TANK AND 3-8 GALLONS ON THE RIGHT TANK.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN TURBULANCE AND AN EXACT MEASURE OF THE FUEL WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE.  THE PILOT FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING AND TURNED TOWARDS THE BAKERSFIELD AREA.  AFTER THE TURN THE PILOT NOTICED THAT BOTH FUEL GAUGES INDICATED -.3 GALLONS IN EACH TANK.  THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH BAKERSFIELD APPROACH.  BAKERSFIELD APPROACH INITIALLY GAVE VECTORS TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP BUT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRSTRIP.  THE PILOT WAS INFORMED THAT BAKERSFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (L45) WAS NOTAMED CLOSED FOR PAINTING AND THE PILOT WAS THEN GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO BAKERSFIELD MEADOWS (BFL) AIRPORT.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO MITIGATE THE RISKS TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND CHOSE TO LAND AT L45.  THE MAINTENANCE WORKERS WERE NOTIFIED BY EMPLOYEES OF KERN CHARTER SERVICE THAT AN EMERGENCY AIRCRAFT WAS GOING TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT.  THE MAINTENANCE PERSONEL MOVED THEIR EQUIPMENT TO THE SIDES OF THE RUNWAY TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE LANDING AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT MANUEVERED FOR THE AIRPORT AND FLEW AN EXTREMELY HIGH APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY.  WITNESS'S PLACE THE AIRCRAFT AT APPROXIMATELY 300-400 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE MIDDLE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE END OF THE RUNWAY WITH MOST OF THE LANDING ROLLOUT OCCURING IN THE DIRT BEYOND THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE WHEEL AND HALF OF THE PROPPELLER WERE BROKEN FROM THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT ROLLED INTO THE SOFT DIRT AFTER THE RUNWAY.  THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT BUT SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE.  THE AIRCAFT CAME TO A STOP IN THE AIRPORT,S PERIMETER FENCE.  A PORTION OF THE LEADING EDGE ON THE LEFT WING SUFFERED DAMAGE, AND A 3 INCH BY 6 INCH HOLE OCCURED IN LEFT SIDE FUSELAGE JUST UNDER THE PILOT'S DOOR.  NO FUEL OR OIL WAS SEEN LEAKING FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FOUND NO GAS IN THE RIGHT TANK.  THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED 7.5 GALLONS OF GAS ACCORDING TO A HOMEMADE DIPSTICK LOCATED IN THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 WPR14CA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA334), Aug 8, 2014: Jabiru USA Sport J250 SP (N526FL), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate approach which resulted in a long landing and runway overrun.

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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