LAX94LA325

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-12 · Riverside, CA · August 19, 1994

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 18, 1994, 19:07 local (Aug 19, 1994, 02:07 UTC)
Place
Riverside, CA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N3415MPiper PA-12
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report April 5, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940818021719A
Case key
28830

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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.

Loss of engine powerCruise
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - vehicle

Analysis

While cruising, the pilot experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a forced landing in a street and collided with two automobiles. A responding police officer reported observing fuel in the street near the airplane. The airplane and engine were examined by an airplane mechanic. The mechanic reported finding evidence of fuel in the airplane. No evidence was found of any mechanical problems with the airplane's engine. The mechanic reported that the engine appeared capable of producing power.

Factual narrative

On August 18, 1994, at 1907 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3415M, operated by its owner, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising near Riverside, California. The pilot made a forced landing on a city street, and during rollout, collided with two occupied automobiles. The airplane was substantially damaged. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries. No one on the ground was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight which originated from Lake Havasu, Arizona, at 1730.

According to a police officer who responded to the accident site, fuel was observed in the street near the airplane. Under the direction of the National Transportation Safety Board, the airplane was examined by an airplane mechanic. The mechanic reported finding evidence of fuel in the airplane. No evidence was found of any mechanical problems with the airplane's engine. The mechanic reported that the engine appeared capable of producing power.

Aircraft

Registration
N3415M
Reported as
Piper PA-12
Category
Airplane
Serial number
12-2265
Engine
Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Steven C. Walker
Registered owner
Steven C. Walker
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 2, 1993 · 38 hours before
Departed
HII · Lake Havasu, AZ
Destination
CNO · Chino, 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
42
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Front
Flight hours
5,500 total · 250 in this make and model · 3,040 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
270° at 10 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
RAL, 1 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.