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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 29, 1996 · Gray Berkut · N260DG

Santa Paula, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 29, 1996
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 4 unknown outcomes
Location
Santa Paula, CA
Aircraft
Gray Berkut
Tail Number
N260DG
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX96LA254

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.

NTSB 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.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 PDT
Nearest AirportSanta Paula (0nm NE)
Runway22
Runway Length2500 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGray Berkut
Tail NumberN260DG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-G4B5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 4 unknown outcomes
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 41 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 9 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:46
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data