Cessna 195 accident near Santa Ana, California, August 11, 1997
On August 11, 1997 at about 6:39 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N9328A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Ana, California (Santa Ana airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Water contamination in the fuel system due to the failure of the mechanic who performed the last annual inspection to adequately comply with the AD which required inspection of the fuel tank filler area for proper sealing, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1997 · about 6:39 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · Santa Ana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N9328A · no longer on the register · serial 7407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft lost engine power during an ILS approach, made an emergency landing in an auto parking lot, and collided with ground obstructions during the landing roll. During inspection of the aircraft, the contents of the carburetor were found to be approximately 1/3 water and grit deposits and 2/3 fuel. The inside of the top of the recessed wing fuel caps exhibited corrosion, and rust was present on the locking shaft. The O-rings around the shaft were deteriorated and the shaft had a side-to-side free play of about 1/16 inch. The bottom side of the fuel caps also exhibited corrosion and a pattern of scratches similar to the use of an abrasive material in the areas where corrosion was present. Corrosion was also present internally in the metal gascolator. An AD required an annual inspection of the fuel cap areas for evidence of water contamination. The AD was signed off by the mechanic at the last annual on 08/01/96. The aircraft is parked outside exclusively.
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: 2,492 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1996; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs 755A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBD San Bernadino CA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: SNA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19R, 5,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:10 pm from SNA
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.