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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

July 13, 1987 · Ryan ST3KR · N48777

Firebaugh, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 13, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Firebaugh, CA
Aircraft
Ryan ST3KR
Tail Number
N48777
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX87FA264

AT ABOUT 1650 PDT, THE PLTS OF 2 RYAN ST3KR ACFT DEPD COALINGA ON A FLT TO LOS BANOS, CA. AT ABOUT 1709 PDT, THE PLT OF N48777 MADE A HAND SIGNAL TO THE OTHER PLT, POINTED TOWARD THE GROUND & ENTERED 'A NORMAL GLIDE.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT OF N48777 MANEUVERED THE ACFT TO LAND IN A COTTON FLD. HOWEVER, A WITNESS SAID THAT BEFORE LANDING, THE ACFT'S NOSE PITCHED UP, THEN THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT & CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN ESTD 20 DEG LEFT WING DOWN, 30 DEG NOSELOW ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT APRX 1/3 GAL OF FUEL HAD DRAINED FM THE FUEL TANK.THE CARBURETOR HAD BROKEN DRG IMPACT; NO FUEL WAS FND IN THE LINE TO THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FND IN THE OFF PSN (SMALL POINTER PSND TOWARD 'BOTH OFF' & THE HANDLE POINTING TOWARD 'MAIN ON'). THE FUEL SYS HAD A STANDPIPE TO PROVIDE 3 GAL OF RESERVE FUEL, BUT THE PLT'S MANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL WASN'T DETERMINED. ANOTHER ST3KR PLT ESTD N48777 HADABOUT 10 GAL OF FUEL BEFORE THE FLT. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.04%.

Full Narrative

AT ABOUT 1650 PDT, THE PLTS OF 2 RYAN ST3KR ACFT DEPD COALINGA ON A FLT TO LOS BANOS, CA. AT ABOUT 1709 PDT, THE PLT OF N48777 MADE A HAND SIGNAL TO THE OTHER PLT, POINTED TOWARD THE GROUND & ENTERED 'A NORMAL GLIDE.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT OF N48777 MANEUVERED THE ACFT TO LAND IN A COTTON FLD. HOWEVER, A WITNESS SAID THAT BEFORE LANDING, THE ACFT'S NOSE PITCHED UP, THEN THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT & CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED IN AN ESTD 20 DEG LEFT WING DOWN, 30 DEG NOSELOW ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT APRX 1/3 GAL OF FUEL HAD DRAINED FM THE FUEL TANK.THE CARBURETOR HAD BROKEN DRG IMPACT; NO FUEL WAS FND IN THE LINE TO THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FND IN THE OFF PSN (SMALL POINTER PSND TOWARD 'BOTH OFF' & THE HANDLE POINTING TOWARD 'MAIN ON'). THE FUEL SYS HAD A STANDPIPE TO PROVIDE 3 GAL OF RESERVE FUEL, BUT THE PLT'S MANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL WASN'T DETERMINED. ANOTHER ST3KR PLT ESTD N48777 HADABOUT 10 GAL OF FUEL BEFORE THE FLT. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.04%.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:11 PDT
Nearest Airport3nm ENE
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRyan ST3KR
Tail NumberN48777
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsKinner · R-55 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 62 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data