Ryan NAVION accident near Dublin, Virginia, November 17, 1992
On November 17, 1992 at about 8:12 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N4488K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dublin, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WHICH PRODUCED AN INADEQUATE FUEL FLOW AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ROUGH TERRAIN AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1992 · about 8:12 pm local time
- Place
- Dublin, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4488K · no longer on the register · serial NAV4-1488
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. FUEL WAS AVAILABLE, BUT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. DURING AN EMERGENCY WHEELS-UP LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE SLID INTO A TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS ADJUSTED TO A MINIMUM PRESSURE SETTING. ABOUT 4 PSI OF FUEL PRESSURE WAS AVAILABLE; A MINIMUM OF 10 PSI WAS NEEDED FOR THE PRESSURE CARBURETOR TO OPERATE. WITH THE LINE FROM THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR BLOCKED (FOR A TEST), THE FUEL PRESSURE WOULD READ IN EXCESS OF 15 PSI. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,216 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 30 days; 2,116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,323 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1992; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTP Butler City PA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: 27J Newbury SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ROA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.