North American Navion A accident near El Centro, California, August 28, 2006
On August 28, 2006 at about 5:06 pm local time, a North American Navion A, registered N947A, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Centro, California (Douthitt Strip Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power during takeoff, as a result of air being sucked into the fuel system due to a worn fuel selector valve stem and a bent detent ring.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2006 · about 5:06 pm local time
- Place
- El Centro, California · Douthitt Strip Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American Navion A · all Navion As on the register
- Registration
- N947A · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-490
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine lost partial power on takeoff and the pilot force-landed the airplane in a field. The airplane was involved in a similar accident 2 years prior. After being rebuilt, the pilot (who was also the aviation maintenance technician who rebuilt it) was relocating the airplane to a nearby airport. Post accident examination and testing of the fuel selector showed that the detent ring was bent and the air bypassed internally between the ports. With the detent ring bent, positive engagement of the fuel selector's position was difficult to ascertain. In addition, the shaft was worn. The type certificate holder for the airplane had released two Service Bulletins to replace the aging valves. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin recommending aircraft owners test the valves for internal leakage and condition, and if necessary, replace them.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,318 hours in all; 928 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 1,110 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,992 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2006; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 23CN Douthitt Strip CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: IPL Imperial County CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 106°F (41°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from IPL, 4 miles away
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.
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.