# NTSB LAX90LA071: North American Navion, N727G, Apple Valley, CA, January 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 20, 1990, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Apple Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 34.569477, -117.149696 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5695&lon=-117.1497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26720
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26720/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA071

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT THE AIRPLANE AND DEPARTED ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WITH MINIMAL FUEL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE LOCAL VFR FLIGHT. WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN ROUGH/UNEVEN DIRT AREA ABT 1/2 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. A POST-ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DSCLSD THE ENGINE SUSTAINED FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FUEL; THE FUSELAGE TANK WAS EMPTY. THE LEFT TANK FED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N727G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N727G), registered now, S/N NAV-4-251, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION
- Registry model: [North American NAVION](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion) (registry code 6150130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NAV-4-251
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-H 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Plaster, Buddy
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: APV, Apple Valley, runway 18, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,481 total, 15 in this make and model, 4,481 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900120001449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900120001449A), Jan 20, 1990: Tmpson NAVIONF, Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Tried to return to runway but crashed off airport in rough ground. Fuel tanks were empty.

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.

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