Republic RC-3 accident near Lakeport, California, March 22, 1984
On March 22, 1984 at about 9:01 pm local time, a Republic RC-3, registered N6470K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeport, California. It was a ferry 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 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
- March 22, 1984 · about 9:01 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeport, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Republic RC-3 · all RC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6470K · no longer on the register · serial RC-3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT ON HIS PREFLIGHT HE FOUND THE ENG COMPRESSION & OIL LEVEL TO BE LOW BUT AFTER SERVICING THE OIL TO THE PROPER LEVEL HE DEPARTED & ON INITIAL CLIMB, AFTER REACHING ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE ENG STARTED POPPING & LOSING RPM. THE PLT MADE A LEFT TURN TO AVOID OBSTACLES & LANDED IN A SMALL GRAPE VINEYARD. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED LOW COMPRESSION & EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO WEAR. THE ACFT HAD BEEN OPERATED WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.
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: 8,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,324 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1983; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A8215B9F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 102 Lakeport CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: Clear Lake CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm
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.