Curtiss JN-4 N3712

Summary

On 5 August 1987 at about 14:20 local time, a Curtiss JN-4 registered N3712, operated by Wentworth, Charles G., was involved in an accident near Riverside, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

5 August 1987 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Riverside, California, United States

Coordinates

33.8996, -117.3996

Aircraft

Curtiss JN-4

Registration

N3712

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wentworth, Charles G.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rubidoux → Corona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX87DUG06

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A BUSINESS FLIGHT, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA WHERE DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PLT STALLED THE ACFT WHILE STILL SEVERAL FT OFF THE GROUND. THE ACFT RT WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT TURNED RT BEFORE CRASHING IN A CONSTRUCTION SITE PARKING LOT. ACCORDING TO AN ENGINE OVERHAUL FACILITY, THIS ENGINE HAD A COOLANT PUMP LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CARBURETOR. THIS PUMP HAD A HISTORY OF LEAKING, AND WOULD CAUSE A SUBSTANTIAL POWER LOSS WHEN NOT MAINTAINED CORRECTLY. THE LEAKING COOLANT PUMP WOULD INTRODUCE CONTAMINATES THROUGH SEVERAL PORTS IN THE CARBURETOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.