Amateur-built R 80 TIGER MOTH accident near Ramona, California, August 14, 2012
On August 14, 2012 at about 9:35 pm local time, a amateur-built R 80 TIGER MOTH, registered N615SX, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Ramona, California (Ramona 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
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2012 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built R 80 TIGER MOTH
- Registration
- N615SX · no longer on the register · serial 14
- 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 prior to the cross-country flight, which would require approximately six gallons of fuel to complete, he had seven gallons of fuel in the main fuel tank and five gallons in the auxiliary tank. The cross-country flight was uneventful; about 0.5 mile away from the airport, on the base leg, the airplane’s engine stopped developing power. The pilot reported he was unable to open the auxiliary tank valve in a timely manner before the airplane impacted terrain approximately 100 yards east of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern base)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,777 hours in all; 494 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 4,742 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 7, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 494 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 23, 2011; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM San Diego CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: RNM Ramona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from RNM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.