Amateur-built QUESTAIR VENTURE accident near Auburn, California, December 4, 1999
On December 4, 1999 at about 1:15 am local time, a amateur-built QUESTAIR VENTURE, registered N3QV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Auburn, California (Auburn Muni Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The owner/builder's failure to properly bleed the brake system following replacement of the right brake line, which caused the right brake to not function and led to the pilot's inability to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1999 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Auburn, California · Auburn Muni Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUESTAIR VENTURE QUESTAIR V
- Registration
- N3QV · no longer on the register · serial 28
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
One month prior to the accident the pilot had noted a leak in the right brake line. Upon inspection he found a small hole in the line. The line was replaced and the airplane was taxi, takeoff, and landing tested for brake airworthiness. No further discrepancies were noted. The pilot noted no difficulties with approach, initial touchdown, or the initial landing roll. Approximately midfield, after the airplane had slowed down, he applied brakes. The right brake did not activate properly, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, encountered a muddy field and nosed over. Witnesses to the accident stated that it was windy at traffic pattern altitude; however, surface winds were about 5 knots.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MMV Mcminnville OR
- Destination: AUN CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from BAB, 60 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.