# NTSB WPR23LA159: Vashon Ranger R7, N349VR, Upland, CA, April 18, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 18, 2023, 16:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Upland, CA · West airport property fence - Coordinates: 34.111611, -117.68738 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1116&lon=-117.6874&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 107084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper selection of the mixture control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and a collision with the airport boundary fence during a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Engine shutdown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/140/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Vashon RANGER R7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=06001BU), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on short final during a normal approach, he accidently pulled the engine mixture control to idle-cutoff and the engine shut down. He was unable to restart the engine and landed short of the runway. The airplane then impacted the airport boundary fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N349VR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N349VR), registered now, S/N 10202, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VASHON AIRCRAFT RANGER R7 - Registry model: [Vashon RANGER R7](https://openairdocs.org/model/vashon-ranger-r7) (registry code 06001BU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-d) (registry code 17409, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10202 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 37.8 - Engines: Continental O-200-D 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ckd Engineering LLC DBA - Registered owner: Ckd Engineering LLC DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: December 7, 2022 - Departed: KCCB, Upland, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KCCB, CABLE Airport, runway 24, 3,863 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 401 total, 38 in this make and model, 251 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KCCB - METAR: KCCB 182335Z AUTO 26011G16KT 10SM BKN028 BKN038 OVC045 15/08 A2993 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230418011419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230418011419A), Apr 18, 2023: Vashon Aircraft RANGER R7, Upland, CA, Substantial damage. On April 18, 2023, at approximately 16:35 l, [privacy data omitted], a single-engine piston-powered fixed-wing light sport aircraft, was conducting… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107084. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15592202&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA159_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15592610&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA159%20Pic%20N349VR-Rel.pdf 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.