# NTSB LAX96LA254: Gray Berkut, N260DG, Santa Paula, CA, June 29, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 1996, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Santa Paula, CA - Coordinates: 34.399833, -119.069778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3998&lon=-119.0698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 5 minor; on the ground: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29490 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29490/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA254 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power during final approach for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the nature of the terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - terrain condition - roadway/highway (contributing factor) - object - vehicle ## Analysis The accident occurred on the airplane's second flight after issuance of an experimental airworthiness certificate. The engine lost power during final approach, and the airplane collided with a tree and an automobile while landing on the center median of a freeway. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 1996, at 1630 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Gray Berkut, N260DG, collided with a tree and an automobile during an emergency landing after an in-flight loss of power while on final approach to the Santa Paula Airport, Santa Paula, California. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner as a flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane was destroyed. The airline transport rated pilot and the four occupants of the vehicle struck by the aircraft all received minor injuries. The flight originated from Camarillo, California, at 1600. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot/owner/builder had completed the airplane's first test flight after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an experimental airworthiness certificate for amateur built aircraft. The pilot was in the process of positioning the airplane to the Santa Paula Airport. He reported the engine lost power on final approach. The pilot attempted to restart the engine without success. He then elected to attempt an off-airport landing on the westbound lanes of a freeway. The pilot indicated he was too low and landed on the center median. The airplane struck an automobile that moved from the traffic lanes to the median to avoid the airplane. The airplane's engine was examined on October 29, 1996, at Lynn's Aircraft Engines, El Monte, California. During the examination, no evidence was found of a mechanical failure, nor were any malfunctions discovered that explained a loss of engine power. According to aircraft maintenance records, the fuel pump was overhauled on December 7, 1995, by Aero Accessories Inc., Gibsonville, North Carolina, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certified Repair Station. The repair station issued FAA Form 813.0-3, "Airworthiness Approval Tag" at the time of the overhaul. In addition, the pilot reported that the airplane had accrued a total time of .7 hours. No evidence was found that indicated the fuel pump was operated in any other engine since the overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N260DG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N260DG-1999-05-11), registration cancelled 1999-05-11, S/N 043 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRAY BERKUT - Registry model: [Gray Daniel BERKUT](https://openairdocs.org/model/gray-daniel-berkut) (registry code 05602WY) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 043 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-G4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel Gray - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 1996, 1 hours before - Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA - Destination: SZP - Airport: SZP, Santa Paula, runway 22, 2,500 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 21,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 19,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CMA, 8 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960629019869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960629019869A), Jun 29, 1996: Amtr BERKUT, Santa Paula, CA, Destroyed. No narrative available 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.