Amateur-built II accident near Lancaster, California, January 22, 1982
On January 22, 1982 at about 10:59 pm local time, a amateur-built II, registered N13JL, was destroyed in an accident near Lancaster, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1982 · about 10:59 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built II
- Registration
- N13JL · no longer on the register · serial RG-56-1067
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE AIRCRAFT TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER. ABOUT 20 TO 30 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT IN A CIRCLING DESCENT. AT 500 TO 700 FT AGL, THE DESCENT ANGLE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO NEARLY VERTICAL AND THE PLANE CRASHED. ONE WITNESS NOTED A CONSPICUOUS ABSENCE OF ENGINE NOISE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SHAFT ON THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS BROKEN BETWEEN THE SELECTOR HANDLE AND THE INTERNAL MECHANISM OF THE VALUE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE SHAFT HAD BEEN PARTIALLY BROKEN FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. TRACES OF FUEL WERE EVIDENT AT THE LEFT AND RIGHT INLET PORTS TO THE VALVE. HOWEVER, NO FUEL WAS EVIDENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, FORWARD FROM THE FUEL SELECTOR. A TEARDOWN DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 488 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: William Fox CA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: William Fox CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 111°F (44°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.