# NTSB WPR23LA181: Steven Radenbaugh JA35 Superstol, N799CP, Moorpark, CA, May 6, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 6, 2023, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Moorpark, CA · on a friend's ranch - Coordinates: 34.31, -118.81 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3100&lon=-118.8100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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): 114708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/114708/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114708 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA181 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an off airport precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight with a possible mechanical malfunction. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Steven Radenbaugh JA35 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05640M8), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Steven Radenbaugh JA35 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05640M8), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction; cases with it: [Steven Radenbaugh JA35 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md?model=05640M8), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Steven Radenbaugh JA35 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05640M8), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Steven Radenbaugh JA35 SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05640M8), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during a series of take offs and landings, the “A line red light” for the engine’s fuel pump illuminated, twice. Both times, he shut down the engine to reset the engine’s computer and restarted the engine. The pilot reported knowledge of a potential mechanical malfunction prior to leaving the airport environment, during the accident flight. He continued the flight to a remote area where the light illuminated again, followed by the low-pressure fuel warning light. The pilot elected to land the airplane on a deserted dirt road. While landing, the sun impeded his vision and the airplane landed beside the road, on rough terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane’s main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N799CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N799CP), registered now, S/N JA622-03-21, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEVEN RADENBAUGH JA35 SUPERSTOL - Registry model: [Steven Radenbaugh JA35 SUPERSTOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/steven-radenbaugh-ja35-superstol) (registry code 05640M8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 915 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-915-is-series) (registry code 55620, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA622-03-21 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Rotax 915IS 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Emerald Isle Apartments LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2023, 30 hours before - Departed: KCMA, Camarillo, CA - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 1,100 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KCMA, 15 nm away - METAR: METAR KCMA 061355Z 05004KT 10SM CLR 12/09 A3006 ## 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 20230506009049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230506009049A), May 6, 2023: Steven Radenbaugh JA35 SUPERSTOL, Somis, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he departed camarillo airport east bound and during cruise the engine sputtered with fluctuating fuel pressure. He elected to make an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114708. 2.7 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=15720489&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA181%206120_%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15721317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA181_508-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.