Amateur-built DHC-2 accident near Trinity Center, California, June 17, 1989
On June 17, 1989 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-2, registered N1215, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trinity Center, California (Trinity Center airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INTERRUPTION OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1989 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Trinity Center, California · Trinity Center · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-2
- Registration
- N1215 · no longer on the register · serial 1479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FT AGL WHEN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A RIVER BED. DURING ROLLOUT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A BOULDER AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE MISHAP THE ACFT'S LOW FUEL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT HAD ACTIVATED. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF FUEL IN THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP & IN THE CARB.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,233 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 6,022 as pilot in command; 191 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,073 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 23, 1989; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,370 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 AN14-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Trinity Lake CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.