Boughner R 80 TIGER MOTH N615SX

Summary

On 14 August 2012 at about 21:35 local time, a Boughner R 80 TIGER MOTH registered N615SX, operated by Boughner Gerald O, was involved in an accident near Ramona, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 2012 at 21:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Ramona, California, United States

Nearest airport

Ramona Airport (RNM)

Coordinates

33.0369, -116.9092

Aircraft

Boughner R 80 TIGER MOTH

Registration

N615SX

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Boughner Gerald O

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Ramona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA358

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that prior to the cross-country flight, which would require approximately six gallons of fuel to complete, he had seven gallons of fuel in the main fuel tank and five gallons in the auxiliary tank. The cross-country flight was uneventful; about 0.5 mile away from the airport, on the base leg, the airplane’s engine stopped developing power. The pilot reported he was unable to open the auxiliary tank valve in a timely manner before the airplane impacted terrain approximately 100 yards east of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.