Navion G Model accident near El Centro, California, January 15, 2007
On January 15, 2007, a Navion G Model, registered N3BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Centro, California (Douthitt Strip Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the glare from the sun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2007
- Place
- El Centro, California · Douthitt Strip Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion G Model
- Registration
- N3BP · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-2457
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after an uneventful flight, he initiated a normal approach to the airport. While on final approach to runway 22, he stated that he couldn't see the runway or area surrounding it due to the alignment of the sun and decided to abort the landing and go-around. Shortly after applying power and raising the landing gear, the engine "sputtered" and lost power. The pilot stated that he had limited visibility due to the sunglare during the forced landing and was trying to keep the airplane from stalling. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain. Examination of the airframe revealed that the left and right wing sustained substantial damage. The right fuel tank was intact and contained a significant amount of fuel. All of the remaining fuel tanks were breeched. The engine was removed from the airframe, installed on an engine run test stand, and successfully ran at various power settings with no anomalies noted. The fuel selector valve was removed from the airframe and examined. The fuel selector valve shaft was bent. Manual activation by hand produced positive engagement in all positions. The fuel selector was placed on a test bench and functionally tested in accordance with the Navion Service Bulletin 106. Within one minute after applying 24 inches of vacuum pressure, an unspecified amount in excess of 20 inches of pressure was lost. According to the type certificate holder, the maximum specified loss is one inch. Both internal and external leaking was observed during the bench test. The fuel selector valve was dissembled and visually inspected with no anomalies noted. The official sunset was recorded to be 48 minutes after the approximate time of the accident and the end of civil twilight was 75 minutes after the approximate time of the accident.
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: 3,600 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2006; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,068 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SNS Salinas CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 23CN El Centro CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.