- Date
- December 2, 1993, 16:15 local (Dec 3, 1993, 00:15 UTC)
- Place
- Santa Paula, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N89014North American SNJ-5
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931202045779A
- Case key
- 28613
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
was the failure of the needle valve pin assembly in the airplane's carburetor. A factor which contributed to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the emergency landing.
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 pilot reported that while cruising at 3,800 feet mean sea level he suddenly detected a 'very strong smell of aviation gasoline and the engine stopped running.' The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was not successful. The pilot further reported that he did not have sufficient altitude to glide to any airport, so he made an emergency landing in a nearby river bed. During rollout, the airplane collided with vegetation. An examination of the engine revealed it had stopped as a result of being flooded with excessive fuel. The cause of the flooding related to the improper functioning of the carburetor's needle valve pin.
Factual narrative
On December 2, 1993, at 1615 Pacific standard time, a North American SNJ-5, N89014, operated by the pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight at 3,800 feet mean sea level. The pilot made a forced landing in a dry river bed about 2 miles east of Santa Paula, California. During rollout, the airplane collided with vegetation and was substantially damaged. Neither the certificated airline transport pilot nor passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local area personal flight. The flight originated from Camarillo, California, on December 2, 1993, at 1545.
The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that during the flight all systems appeared to operate normally, and the fuel and oil pressures were within normal operating limits. Suddenly, he detected a "very strong smell of aviation gasoline and the engine stopped running." The pilot stated that he attempted to restart the engine, but was not successful. The pilot further reported that he did not have sufficient altitude to glide to any airport, so he made an emergency landing in a nearby river bed.
At the Safety Board's request, the airplane's carburetor was examined, and a written report was received from a Federal Aviation Administration certificated A & P mechanic. The mechanic indicated that the engine stoppage had resulted from it having been flooded with excessive fuel. The cause of the flooding related to the improper functioning of the carburetor's needle valve pin (see attached report for additional details).
The carburetor was identified by the pilot as follows: Stromburg, model NAY 9E1; serial No. 5638362.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89014
- Reported as
- North American SNJ-5
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 84865
- Airframe hours
- 8,495
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- American Airpower Heritage
- Registered owner
- American Airpower Heritage
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 17, 1993 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- CMA · Camarillo, 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
- 57
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 19,000 total · 110 in this make and model · 13,000 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.