Amateur-built RV-6A accident near Saticoy, California, November 7, 2003
On November 7, 2003 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-6A, registered N102RC, was destroyed in an accident near Saticoy, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of a loose B-nut fitting for the carburetor fuel inlet line, which allowed fuel to leak out.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 7, 2003 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Saticoy, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N102RC · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane traversed through a small stream, collided with a berm, and nosed over during a forced landing in a dry riverbed following a loss of engine power. Witnesses heard the airplane flying overhead before the crash and reported that the engine was sputtering. No fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks during recovery of the airplane from the accident site. During the engine examination, a B-nut for the carburetor fuel inlet line was discovered loose at its attach point. Fuel staining was evident on the fuel line fitting, the fuel line itself, and the airbox situated directly below the fuel line. An internal examination of the engine was conducted, with no obvious mechanical anomalies found. The B-nut was indexed so that it's position could be re established, then it was tightened to facilitate an engine ground run. The engine started and ran normally, both with and without the electric fuel pump, during the ground run. The B-nut was loosened to its original position. The electric boost pump was activated, with copious amount of fuel leaking out of the loose fuel line fitting.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 852 hours in all; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 101.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SZP
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from CMA, 6 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.