- Date
- August 27, 1990, 13:02 local (20:02 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4220KRyan Navion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 8, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900827036469A
- Case key
- 26909
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Fuel starvation caused by blockage of fuel inlet screen by piece of improperly installed fuel hose.
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
The engine lost power during initial climb and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. The aircraft collided with a freeway guardrail during the forced landing. Investigation disclosed a blockage in the fuel inlet screen. The blockage was identified as a small piece of rubber hose interliner. Records indicate the fuel hose was fabricated and installed on the aircraft on or about January 19, 1990, at about 38 tach hours prior to the accident. Records also indicate the engine was major overhauled on December 12, 1989, at which time all fuel, oil and hydraulic hoses were replaced.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4220K
- Reported as
- Ryan Navion
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1220
- Engine
- Continental E185, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- David L. Smith
- Departed
- MYF · San Diego, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 902 total · 800 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- MYF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.