Amateur-built CH-750 accident near Winchester, California, April 14, 2011
On April 14, 2011 at about 4:40 pm local time, a amateur-built CH-750, registered N632DR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Winchester, California (French Valley Airport). It was a flight test 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
A total loss of engine power during descent for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2011 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Winchester, California · French Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH-750
- Registration
- N632DR · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The builder/owner/pilot of the kitplane had selected and installed a modified Chevrolet Corvair engine as the airplane's powerplant and was in the early stages of the test flight program. The engine had accumulated a total of about 3 flight hours before the accident flight, and the fuel quantity gauges were not yet operative. About 45 minutes into the flight, the engine experienced a complete loss of power during a reduced-power descent toward the home airport, and the pilot was unable to restart the engine. In the resulting off-airport forced landing, the airplane came to rest inverted. First responders observed that fuel was leaking from the tanks. Examination of the airplane and the ground underneath the airplane a few hours after the accident revealed only trace amounts of fuel. Residual fuel from the source used to fuel the airplane for the accident flight tested negative for both water and ethanol, and the fuel strainers were free of obstructions. About 1 month after the accident, the chief engine designer at the engine modification company examined and prepared the engine for a test run. The engine started and performed normally through various power settings. The designer concluded that the engine failure was due to fuel exhaustion. Total fuel capacity was about 24 gallons, and the pilot estimated that he departed on the flight with about 13 gallons. According to the designer, the engine would have consumed between about 7 and 11 gallons per hour between the cruise- and full-power settings. The pilot stated that during the descent in which he experienced the engine failure, the engine rpm was no lower than 2,400 rpm; therefore, he did not use carburetor heat. Correlation of ambient temperature and dew point values indicated that the airplane was operating in a region that corresponded to "Serious Icing (Glide Power)," near the boundary of the region denoted as "Serious Icing (Cruise Power)." Available evidence was insufficient to conclusively determine whether the engine power loss was due to fuel exhaustion or carburetor icing.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (descent) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,325 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,287 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 26, 2011; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Chevrolet Corvair (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Murieta CA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: F70 Murieta CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from RIV, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.