# Accident 20230418011419A: Vashon Aircraft RANGER R7, Upland, CA, April 18, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2023, 16:35 local time
- Place: Upland, CA
- Airport: Cable Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1116° N, 117.6874° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1116&lon=-117.6874&mi=10
- Aircraft: N349VR, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N349VR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vashon RANGER R7 (registry code 06001BU, https://openairdocs.org/model/vashon-ranger-r7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-200-D (registry code 17409, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VASHON AIRCRAFT RANGER R7
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-200-D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 401 total, 37 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA159) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230418011419A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 18, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 16:35 L, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A SINGLE-ENGINE PISTON-POWERED FIXED-WING LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT, WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH-AND-GO PRACTICE ON RUNWAY 24 AT CABLE AIRPORT (CCB). THE FLIGHT WAS FOR PERSONAL, PRIVATE OPERATIONS. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED INTO AN EXTERIOR AIRPORT FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE CHAIN-LINK FENCE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 40 KNOTS. THE CUSHIONING EFFECT FROM THE FENCE CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO COME TO A STOP.

NO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WERE INJURED, BUT AIRPORT PROPERTY ON THE GROUND WAS DAMAGED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE IMPACT. THE PILOT IN COMMAND, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT REPORTED TO HAVE ANY INJURIES. THE PILOT USED THE LEFT MAIN DOOR TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT WALKED AWAY UNASSISTED.

AIRPORT RESCUE CAME TO THE SCENE, RECOVERED THE AIRCRAFT, AND MOVED IT TO A PARKING AREA. NO ACTUAL WITNESSES TO THE EVENT WERE REPORTED.

THE AIRCRAFT APPEARS TO HAVE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE OUTBOARD END OF THE LEFT WING IS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, THE WINDSHIELD IS BROKEN, THE ENGINE MOUNTS ARE DAMAGED, THE PROP SPINNER IS DAMAGED, AND THE PROPELLER HAS PROP STRIKE DAMAGE. NO LEAKS OF FUEL, OIL, OR HYDRAULIC FLUIDS ARE DETECTED.

THE AIRPORT MANAGER STATED THE PROPERTY DAMAGES. THEY ARE ABOUT 30 FEET OF CHAIN-LINK FENCE AND 4 LIGHT POLES POST. THEY WERE KNOCKED DOWN BY THE AIRCRAFT CRASH.

THE PIC MADE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE EVENT. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND ON RUNWAY 24, HE INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO CUT OFF, INSTEAD OF THE THROTTLE TO REDUCE THE POWER TO THE IDLE. HE DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT UNTIL HE TRIED TO ADD POWER FOR THE LANDING. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO HIS THROTTLE CONTROL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE AN ENGINE RESTART IN THE SHORT TIME AVAILABLE. THE PILOT OPTED TO FLY DIRECTLY INTO THE CHAIN-LINK FENCE, WHICH PROVIDED A RELATIVELY CUSHIONED STOP.

## 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 WPR23LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA159), Apr 18, 2023: Vashon Ranger R7 (N349VR), Upland, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper selection of the mixture control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and a collision with the airport boundary fence during a forced landing.

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.