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LAX90LA183

1990-05-19 · SANTA YNEZ, California, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport IZA

N3157F has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (DJI AGRAS T40), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT AND SECURE THE FUEL SYSTEM CAPS WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL SIPHONING AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Factual narrative

THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REFUELED WITH THE 20 GALLONS OF FUEL IMMEDIATLEY PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. ABOUT ONE HOUR INTO THE 1.5 HOUR PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT STATED WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT THE LEFT TANK INDICATED 3/4 FULL AND THE RIGHT TANK 1/8. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A GRAPE VINEYARD AND FLIPPED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED HEAVY FUEL STAINS FROM BOTH FUEL CAPS AFT ON TOP OF THE WING SURFACES AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS. THE FUEL TANKS APPEARED TO BE EMPTY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_LAX90LA183.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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