- Date
- July 23, 1985, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Anza, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N876CStinson 108-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 24780
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a cross country personal flight, the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion for undertermined reasons and nosed over during the subsequent forced landing in a soft sand and scrub brush covered area. Prior to departure of the flight (a measured straight line distance of 75 NM) the pilot said he confirmed a fuel quantity of 37 gallons. According to the plt, the flt was airborne for about 50 minutes when the 'engine quit.' Documents produced by the pilot established that 19 gallons of fuel were purchased at the departure airport on the day of the accident. Examination of the aircraft at the accident site by FAA inspectors revealed no fuel in the tanks and only about a teaspoon full in the system components forward of the firewall. The FAA inspectors reported no evidence of fuel leakage or stains on the underlying and adjacent soil or vegitation. No mechanical malfunctions were identified during the exam of the powerplant.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N876C
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-3876
- Airframe hours
- 1,700
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4-165-B3, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Byron P. Strope
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 9, 1985 · 27 hours before
- Departed
- L66 · Corona, CA
- Destination
- L08 · Borrego Valley, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 246 total · 172 in this make and model · 186 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RAL