Piper PA-18 accident near Fullerton, California, May 25, 1990
On May 25, 1990 at about 5:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N8474D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fullerton, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE. A FACTOR WAS THE IMPROPERLY MODIFIED FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1990 · about 5:46 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N8474D · no longer on the register · serial 18-6179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE DEPARTED WITH 35 GALLONS OF FUEL. FLEW FOR ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES DURING WHICH TIME HE FLEW HALF AND HALF ON THE TANKS. HE STATED HE DEPARTED AND LANDED ON THE LEFT TANK. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM NOTED 15 GALLONS IN THE RIGHT TANK AND 1/4 GALLON IN THE LEFT TANK. ALSO NOTED WAS A FIELD FABRICATED SECONDARY POINTER ON THE FUEL SELECTOR. THIS POINTER WOULD NOT CONSISTENTLY INDEX WITH THE STOCK IMPERIAL VALVE POINTER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,583 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jefe Voladores, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.