North American NAVION accident near Apple Valley, California, January 20, 1990
On January 20, 1990 at about 8:15 pm local time, a North American NAVION, registered N727G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apple Valley, California (Apple Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT THE AIRPLANE AND DEPARTED ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WITH MINIMAL FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1990 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · Apple Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N727G · registry record · serial NAV-4-251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE LOCAL VFR FLIGHT. WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN ROUGH/UNEVEN DIRT AREA ABT 1/2 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. A POST-ACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DSCLSD THE ENGINE SUSTAINED FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FUEL; THE FUSELAGE TANK WAS EMPTY. THE LEFT TANK FED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.
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; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,481 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,481 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.