North American Navion A accident near Chowchilla, California, September 19, 2005
On September 19, 2005 at about 8:15 pm local time, a North American Navion A, registered N91597, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chowchilla, 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2005 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chowchilla, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American Navion A · all Navion As on the register
- Registration
- N91597 · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a pole during a forced landing on a road following a loss of engine power. Prior to departure, the pilot filled his main tanks and tip tanks and indicated that his auxiliary fuel tank had been previously filled. Normally, the pilot would fill up his auxiliary fuel tank or the tip tanks, but not both at the same time. The pilot said his habit was to rotate between using the auxiliary tank and the tip tanks about every 3 to 4 months. Because he had been using the auxiliary fuel tank for the last several months, he decided to use the wing tip tanks for this flight. The pilot did not run the engine from the tip tanks prior to departing the airport. About 40 minutes into the flight he switched from the main fuel tank to the right tip tank. Prior to selecting the tip tank, he turned on the auxiliary fuel pump. As had happened in the past when he had not used the wing tip tanks for an extended period, he expected the engine to sputter and then restart. However, on this occasion, after the engine sputtered, it did not restart. The pilot then switched the fuel selector back to the main tank and verified that he was getting fuel pressure, but the engine would not restart. On-scene examination by the Federal Aviation Administration did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. Fuel was found in all four fuel tanks. Follow-up examination of the airplane's fuel system showed that the lines and tanks were free from obstruction with no contamination evident.
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: 2,200 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,050 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 21.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPU Calaveras Cty CA at 7:20 pm
- Destination: RNM Ramona CA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MCE, 17 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.