# NTSB LAX96LA285: Diamond Aircraft Industries Katana DA-20-A1, N236BR, Vacaville, CA, July 22, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 22, 1996, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Vacaville, CA
- Coordinates: 38.409618, -122.010475 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4096&lon=-122.0105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA285
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29519/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA285

## Probable cause

improper planning/decision by the instructor pilot, which resulted in subsequent fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of 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
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing
  - object - sign

## Analysis

The flight instructor (CFI) and a rated pilot (student) were on a dual instructional flight and were returning from the practice area to the airport. About 4 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane. He turned the fuel pump on, and the engine started and ran for about 2 minutes, then lost power again. The CFI made a forced landing on an unoccupied street. During the landing, the airplane collided with a street sign and a curbing. An FAA inspector reported the airplane was out of fuel. The inspector further stated that the student had questioned the instructor about the fuel quantity before the flight.

## Factual narrative

On July 22, 1996, about 1145 hours Pacific daylight time, a Katana DA-20-A1, N236BR, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing at Vacaville, California.  Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot were injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight.  According to an FAA inspector, the airplane was out of fuel.  The inspector further stated that the student pilot had questioned the instructor about the fuel quantity prior to the flight.

The instructor pilot reported that they were returning from the practice area, about 4 miles from the airport, and the engine quit.  When he turned on the fuel pump the engine began to run again.  Approximately 2 minutes later, the engine quit again.  The instructor pilot chose to land on a vacant street and the airplane collided with a street sign and curbing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N236BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N236BR-2004-02-12), registration cancelled 2004-02-12, S/N 10036 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft Industries KATANA DA-20-A1 (KATANA DA-)
- Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-A1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-a1) (registry code 2990000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 10036
- Airframe hours: 655
- Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Blue Ridge Aeronautics
- Registered owner: Diamond Financial
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 1996, 85 hours before
- Departed: 045, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 730 total, 199 in this make and model, 622 as pilot in command, 156 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KSU

## 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 19960722019169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960722019169A), Jul 22, 1996: Diamon DA20A1, Vacaville, CA, Substantial damage. Forced landing on dual flight. Fuel tanks empty. Student had questioned CFI about fuel prior. Hit sign on a street.

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.