Bellanca 7ECA accident near Apple Valley, California, February 25, 1992
On February 25, 1992 at about 5:06 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N4193Y, was destroyed in an accident near Apple Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENGINE FUEL EXHAUSTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1992 · about 5:06 pm local time
- Place
- Apple Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N4193Y · registry record · serial 1192-77
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING TO THE LEVEL, SAGE BRUSH COVERED, OPEN DESERT TERRAIN, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE RECOMMENDED GLIDE AIRSPEED AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT ON THE EVENING PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE PILOT FILLED THE FUEL TANKS WITH 19 GALLONS OF FUEL WHICH BROUGHT BOTH TANKS TO ABOUT 3/4 FULL. THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED ABOUT 29.25 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANK LEVEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE ENGINE, AIRFRAME AND ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES AND THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL EXHAUSTION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE AIRPLANE'S OWNERS MANUAL INDICATES THAT THE FUEL ENDURANCE RANGE WITH 29.25 GALLONS OF FUEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 4 HOURS AND 52 MINUTES AT 75% POWER.
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
- Flight time: 214 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LPC Lompoc CA at 2:50 pm
- Destination: P06 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
Other NTSB records under N4193Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.