# NTSB LAX93LA264: Piper PA-38-112, N9539T, Camarillo, CA, June 21, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 1993, 19:58 local (Jun 21, 1993, 02:58 UTC) - Place: Camarillo, CA - Coordinates: 34.229106, -119.070541 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2291&lon=-119.0705&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28414/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA264 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT FUEL CONSUMPTION PLANNING, THE INADEQUATE EN ROUTE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO STOP EN ROUTE FOR FUEL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED TO CAPACITY JUST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE PLANNED 4 HR FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID THE FLIGHT MANUAL FOR THE AIRCRAFT LISTED A 5 HR RANGE ON THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT SHE PLANNED HER FLIGHT TIME AT 4 HRS. THE PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT 3 HRS AND 50 MIN INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT NOTED THAT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF POINT MUGU RADAR APPROACH CONTROL SHE WAS ABLE TO DESCEND BELOW THE BROKEN CLOUD LAYER AND LAND ON A ROAD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A CULVERT DURING THE ROLL OUT. A REVIEW OF THE ATC TAPES AT THE REDDING, CALIFORNIA, FAA ATCT REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED A TAKEOFF CLEARANCE AT 1535 HOURS. THE LAST RADIO CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECORDED BY THE ATC FACILITY AT POINT MUGU NAVAL AIR STATION AT 1958 HOURS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. AFTER RETRIEVAL FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE EXAMINED WITH NO DISCREPANCIES FOUND. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 1993, at 1958 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N9539T, collided with a drainage culvert during a forced landing on a road near Camarillo, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a complete loss of engine power while in cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor the one passenger on board were injured. The flight originated at Redding, California, on the day of the mishap at 1535 hours as a cross country personal flight to Van Nuys, California. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that both fuel tanks were filled just prior to departure from Redding on the planned four hour flight to Van Nuys. The pilot said that she visually looked inside the fuel tanks and confirmed that they were filled to capacity. The pilot said the flight manual for the aircraft listed a five hour range on the aircraft and that she planned her flight time at four hours. The pilot said that about three hours and fifty minutes into the flight the engine quit. The pilot noted that with the assistance of Point Mugu Radar Approach Control she was able to descend below a broken cloud layer and landed on a road. The aircraft collided with a drainage culvert during the roll out. A review was conducted of the air to ground communications tapes at the Redding, California, FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. According to the tapes, the aircraft received a takeoff clearance at 1535 hours. The last radio contact with the aircraft was recorded by the air traffic facility at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station at 1958 hours. Comparison of the documented times between takeoff and the accident yields a total elapsed flight time of four hours and twenty three minutes. An FAA airworthiness inspector from the Van Nuys, California, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft at the accident site. He reported that he found only residual fuel in the fuel system. After retrieval from the accident site, the engine and fuel system were examined by a Safety Board investigator who reported finding no discrepancies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9539T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9539T-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 38-78A0127, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0127 - Airframe hours: 1828 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sabina Johnsen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 15, 1993, 93 hours before - Departed: RDD, REDDING, CA - Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 363 total, 292 in this make and model, 363 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °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 19930620019639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930620019639A), Jun 20, 1993: Piper PA38112, Camarillo, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit after four hours 20 minutes into flight. Struck culvert landing on a road. 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. --- 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.