# Accident 20221217019159A: Royse Ralph L GLASAIR, Cottonwood, CA, December 17, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2022, 10:45 local time
- Place: Cottonwood, CA
- Airport: Cottonwood
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3430° N, 122.3394° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3430&lon=-122.3394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9YA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9YA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Royse Ralph L GLASAIR (registry code 05655TZ, https://openairdocs.org/model/royse-ralph-l-glasair) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-320-B1A (registry code 42135, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROYSE RALPH L GLASAIR
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,115 total, 200 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA074) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221217019159A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FLY FOR A WHILE, DUE TO POOR WEATHER. WHILE ON A PERSONAL SIGHT SEEING SOLO FLIGHT OUT OF REDDING MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KRDD), FLYING SOUTH AT APPROXIMATELY 2000', THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND QUIT. THE PILOT HAD TAKEN OFF ON THE AUXILIARY TANK AND IT HAD BEEN DEPLETED. HE THEN BEGAN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND AND SAW THE DIRT STRIP FROM THE FLYING N RANCH AIRPORT (CA04). GIVEN THE LOW ALTITUDE, HE WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH TO THE MAIN TANK AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE. HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE TO LINE UP WITH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 100' SHORT OF THE FIELD. PHOTOS AVAILABLE FROM THE WRECKAGE OF^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, AS WELL AS THE PILOTS STATEMENT SHOW THAT THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE LEFT WING SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. DAMAGE SIGNITURES TO THE PROPELLER ARE CONSISTENT WITH A POWER OFF LANDING.

## 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 WPR23LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA074), Dec 17, 2022: Royse Ralph L Glasair (N9YA), Cottonwood, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s fuel mismanagement which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N9YA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20101224053949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101224053949I), Dec 24, 2010: Royse Ralph GLASAIR (N9YA), Chico, CA, Minor damage. During approach to landing, the landing gear was extended. After the landing during approach to landing, the landing gear was extended. After the landing gear…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.