Pulsar Aircraft Corp. 100 accident near Victorville, California, August 20, 2000
On August 20, 2000 at about 9:23 pm local time, a Pulsar Aircraft Corp. 100, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N601SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Victorville, California. 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
the pilot's failure to provide enough fuel for the intended flight. Contributing to the accident was an improper fuel vapor return system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2000 · about 9:23 pm local time
- Place
- Victorville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pulsar Aircraft Corp. 100, amateur-built
- Registration
- N601SP · registry record · serial 601
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the second flight of the experimental homebuilt airplane, the engine lost power resulting in a forced landing. The airplane collided with a ravine during the forced landing roll and the landing gear collapsed. Both flights had operated with a fuel load of 10 gallons, 5 gallons in each wing fuel tank. On approach to the runway, the accident pilot experienced a loss of engine power while operating from the left fuel tank. He switched the fuel selector to the right tank but was unable to get a restart. The pilot stated that the fuel vapor return, which was plumbed into the right fuel tank, was greater than advertised. He had understood the rate to be 20/30 percent of the fuel consumption rate.
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
- Flight time: 263 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 256 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2000; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-240-B7B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VCV Socal Airport CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: VCV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from VCV, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N601SP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.