Amateur-built MMI accident near Death Valley, California, October 4, 1990
On October 4, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MMI, registered N3934, was substantially damaged in an accident near Death Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INACCURATE CALCULATION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION AND HIS DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT WITH A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Death Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MMI
- Registration
- N3934 · no longer on the register · serial 207
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DIRT EMBANKMENT AFTER MAKING AN EMERENCY LANDING IN THE DESERT. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT FUEL CAPACITY IS 14 GALLONS AND SUBSEQUENT TO TAKEOFF THE DIRECT READING FUEL QUANTITY INDICATOR DID NOT INDICATE PROPERLY. TOWARD THE END OF THE FLIGHT THE GAUGE STARTED DECREASING RAPIDLY AND WAS INACCURATE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRBORNE FOR OVER FOUR HOURS.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 200 CU. IN. (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RGB Roseburg OR at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Furnace Creek CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.