Amateur-built KIS accident near San Leandro, California, June 20, 1995
On June 20, 1995 at about 10:09 pm local time, a amateur-built KIS, registered N62TW, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Leandro, California (Oakland International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's poor preflight preparation and in-flight decision to overfly a suitable airport when it was evident that he was having an engine problem. The fuel exhaustion was a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1995 · about 10:09 pm local time
- Place
- San Leandro, California · Oakland International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KIS
- Registration
- N62TW · no longer on the register · serial 025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE CONTAINED 17 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE WING TANKS BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. HE ADVISED ATC THAT THE ENGINE WAS MISSING AND RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS TOWARD THE NEAREST AIRPORT. THE PILOT OVERFLEW THE NEAREST AIRPORT TO LAND AT ANOTHER AIRPORT, THINKING THAT THE AIRPLANE ALTITUDE WAS SUFFICIENT TO NEGOTIATE THE SELECTED AIRPORT IF THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE SELECTED AIRPORT AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AND LANDED BEHIND A MIDDLE SCHOOL. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT NEITHER THE AIRFRAME NOR ENGINE FUEL SYSTEMS WERE COMPROMISED AND THAT THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK CONTAINED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL AND THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. INVESTIGATORS WERE UNABLE TO DRAIN ANY FUEL FROM THE GASCOLATOR.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 483 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 445 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 1, 1995; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: STS Santa Rosa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from OAK, 3 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N62TW 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.