Diamond KATANA DA-20-A1 N236BR

Summary

On 22 July 1996 at about 18:45 local time, a Diamond KATANA DA-20-A1 registered N236BR, operated by Blue Ridge Aeronautics, was involved in an accident near Vacaville, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 July 1996 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Vacaville, California, United States

Coordinates

38.4096, -122.0105

Aircraft

Diamond KATANA DA-20-A1

Registration

N236BR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Blue Ridge Aeronautics

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA285

Nobody was injured.

improper planning/decision by the instructor pilot, which resulted in subsequent fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor (CFI) and a rated pilot (student) were on a dual instructional flight and were returning from the practice area to the airport. About 4 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane. He turned the fuel pump on, and the engine started and ran for about 2 minutes, then lost power again. The CFI made a forced landing on an unoccupied street. During the landing, the airplane collided with a street sign and a curbing. An FAA inspector reported the airplane was out of fuel. The inspector further stated that the student had questioned the instructor about the fuel quantity before the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.