Clark Vans RV8 accident near Sonoma, California, September 20, 2005
On September 20, 2005 at about 2:00 am local time, a Clark Vans RV8, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N559JC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sonoma, California (Sonoma Skypark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to the failure of the master electrical power switch, which removed power to the electronic ignition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2005 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Sonoma, California · Sonoma Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Clark Vans RV8, amateur-built
- Registration
- N559JC · no longer on the register · serial 80268
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental airplane collided with grapevines and support posts during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on downwind for the runway. The pilot performed prelanding checks on downwind, and upon switching on the second fuel pump, the engine lost power. The pilot switched the fuel pump to the original position and selected the other fuel tank. Neither action caused the engine to regain its power. The pilot attempted to lower the electrically powered flaps to prepare for the emergency landing on the runway but the flaps failed to deploy. The airplane carried an excess of 30 to 40 knots while flying 10 to 20 feet above the runway; the pilot determined that he would easily overrun the 2,480-foot-long runway and impact structures at the end if he did not divert the airplanes path. He pulled up and turned left 180 degrees to dissipate the extra energy and landed along the vine rows of the neighboring vineyard. First responders reported that there appeared to be no fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks nor evidence of a post accident fuel spill or leak from the airplane. The pilot said that the airplane's electrical system powers the engine's electronic ignition, propeller pitch control, and flaps. Examination of the electrical system revealed that the "Master Power Switch" that was being used was an automotive keyed single pole single throw switch, and that the back was loose and coming apart, making the internal electrical contacts intermittent. This switch ties together power from the batteries and the alternator. Failure of this switch could result in the loss of ignition power to the engine.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,500 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Powersport Mazda 13B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTRK Truckee CA
- Destination: K0Q9 Sonoma CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,480 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N559JC 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.