Amateur-built DSA-1 accident near Pacoima, California, June 18, 1995
On June 18, 1995, a amateur-built DSA-1, registered N8510, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pacoima, 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 contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1995
- Place
- Pacoima, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DSA-1
- Registration
- N8510 · no longer on the register · serial T232748
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN A STATEMENT TO FAA INSPECTORS, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A DRY WASH AREA AND COLLIDED WITH OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE WASH. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE EITHER FUEL LINE BLOCKAGE OR FUEL CONTAMINATION. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO RECORD OF AVIATION FUEL PURCHASE FOR THE AIRCRAFT'S REGISTRATION NUMBER FROM ANY AIRPORT IN THE VICINITY OF ITS BASE OR FROM THE DEPARTURE AREA.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 11:45 pm
- Destination: WHP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.