Rans S-14 accident near Riverside, California, December 13, 1993
On December 13, 1993 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Rans S-14, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N7844E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riverside, California (Flabob Airport). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot incorrectly selecting the wrong fuel valve and the subsequent engine failure due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 1993 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Flabob Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-14, amateur-built · all S-14s on the register
- Registration
- N7844E · registry record · serial 0792026
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 24. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND THE MAIN FUEL VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE AUXILIARY FUEL VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE 'ON' POSITION. AN ATTEMPT TO RUN THE ENGINE IN THIS CONFIGURATION WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE DID RUN, HOWEVER, WITH THE MAIN FUEL VALVE IN THE 'ON' POSITION.
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: 140 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 17, 1993; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from RA, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX94LA071.