De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A N838KC

Summary

On 5 May 2001 at about 16:30 local time, a De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A registered N838KC was involved in an accident near Sonoma, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 May 2001 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sonoma, California, United States

Nearest airport

Sonoma Valley (0Q3)

Coordinates

38.2281, -122.4333

Aircraft

De Havilland TIGER MOTH DH 82A

Registration

N838KC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sonoma → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX01LA165

2 people were seriously injured.

Failure of the pilot to properly flush out the fuel system after the header tank became submerged in water, which precipitated a loss of engine power and forced landing in a soft open dirt area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While maneuvering to land after experiencing a loss of engine power the right wing dug into the soft dirt and the airplane came to rest inverted. Three weeks prior to this accident the airplane was involved in an incident where it came to rest on its nose with the fuel tank remaining partially submerged in water. Efforts were made to clear the water out the fuel system; however, the header tank that sits in the forward portion of the airplane was not removed and flushed properly. The airplane had been ground run after the incident, but not flown until the day of the accident. No mechanical anomalies were noted during the ground runs. During the engine examination trace amounts of water were found in the carburetor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.