Amateur-built RV4 accident near Rialto, California, September 26, 1992
On September 26, 1992 at about 5:55 pm local time, a amateur-built RV4, registered N321RG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rialto, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE OF REPOSITIONING THE FUEL SELECTOR TO A TANK CONTAINING FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1992 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Rialto, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV4
- Registration
- N321RG · registry record · serial 1044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE CRUISING AT 6500 FEET MSL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN THE UNEVEN AND ROUGH TERRAIN OF AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN. THE CRASH SITE ELEVATION WAS ABOUT 1455 FEET MSL. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE POWER LOSS HAD RESULTED FROM HIS IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD '...[RUN] THE ENGINE OUT OF FUEL' AND HAD FAILED TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS TO A TANK CONTAINING FUEL.
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: 685 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 628 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.