Ryan NAVION B N5241K
26 September 1997 · Pacoima, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 26 September 1997 at about 01:17 local time, a Ryan NAVION B registered N5241K, operated by Michael D. Boolen, was involved in an accident near Pacoima, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:17
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pacoima, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Whiteman (WHP)
- Coordinates
- 34.2503, -118.4092
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION B
- Registration
- N5241K
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Michael D. Boolen
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX97FA330
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the dual student's improper positioning of the fuel selector and the CFI's inadequate supervision, which led to a takeoff with the auxiliary fuel tank selected and resulted in fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the position of the nomenclature on the cockpit fuel tank selector.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The aircraft experienced a loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb followed by a steep descent into two single-family residences located approximately 1/2 mile from the end of the departure runway. Evidence at the accident site, and interviews with the aircraft's mechanic and the student pilot's flight instructor, indicated that the auxiliary fuel tank may have been supplying the engine during the takeoff and initial climb. Because the 'OFF' nomenclature on the cockpit fuel tank selector was located on the aft side of the selector housing in this aircraft, it would be easy to infer that the long end of the selector handle should be pointed toward the desired fuel tank selection (which is incorrect), particularly if the small arrow head on the opposite end of the handle has been partially obliterated with age as was the case with this aircraft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Ryan NAVION accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jul 1997 | Ryan NAVION B | Garfield, Colorado, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 9 Mar 1997 | Ryan NAVION | Marina, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1997 | Ryan NAVION A | Hudson, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1997 | Ryan NAVION | Cross City, Florida, United States | James W MacFarlane | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1996 | Ryan NAVION | New Hartford, New York, United States | Terry L Claassen | Fatal | 2 |
| 30 Nov 1998 | Ryan NAVION A | Carrizozo, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1997 | Airbus A300 B4-203 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Pan American World Airways, In | No injuries | - |
| 15 Aug 1997 | Bell UH-1H | Tahoe City, California, United States | Usda / Forest Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 1997 | Cessna 152 | Julian, California, United States | Plus One Flyers, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Oct 1997 | Schweizer 2-32 | Warner Springs, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Oct 1997 | Bellanca 7ECA | Tracy, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Oct 1997 | Extra Flugzeugbau EA-300 | Castaic, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |