Ryan Navion accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 20, 2007
On October 20, 2007 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Ryan Navion, registered N5104K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe County Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A leak in the fuel selector valve and gascolator that resulted in fuel starvation during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was a lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2007 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · Santa Fe County Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan Navion · all Navions on the register
- Registration
- N5104K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-2004
- 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 start, taxi, and engine run-up prior to takeoff were normal, without issues, or anomalies. The airplane departed from runway 28. After raising the landing gear, the pilot noted that the engine rpms were dropping through 2,100 rpm. The pilot communicated with the air traffic control tower, performed a 90 degree turn to the left to avoid terrain and obstacles, and performed a forced landing to rough, uneven terrain. During the landing the nosegear assembly and the right main landing gear separated. The airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right, slid, and came to rest on the right wing, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. The fuel selector valve was removed for further examination and testing. The valve exhibited fuel staining on the main tank inlet and fuel line fitting. The gascolator exhibited fuel staining on the top left side of the casting and on the bottom at the fuel sump location. During the vacuum test the valve bled down more than 10 inches in one minute. The gascolater was compromised and leaked severely. Leaks in the fuel selector valve and gascolator can allow air into the fuel system and result in the loss of engine power.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,880 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,503 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-275 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSAF Santa Fe NM at 5:10 pm
- Destination: 0E0 Moriarty NM
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KSAF, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.