Team INC MINI-MAX accident near Chula Vista, California, October 1, 2012
On October 1, 2012 at about 1:35 am local time, a 1991 Team INC MINI-MAX, registered N1532W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Chula Vista, California (John Nichol'S Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A complete loss of engine power as a result of fuel starvation due to an unsecured fuel filter, which moved in flight and kinked the flexible fuel line, severely restricting the fuel flow to the carburetor. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance conducted on the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2012 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Chula Vista, California · John Nichol'S Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Team INC MINI-MAX 1300-R, built 1991
- Registration
- N1532W · registry record · serial 602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was the fourth owner of the experimental amateur-built airplane and had owned it for about 4 months. During that time, he had conducted unspecified repairs and other maintenance on the airplane and had also flown it. The pilot did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration repairman certificate. During the personal flight, the engine experienced a sudden and complete loss of power. Because the airplane was over a suburban neighborhood, the pilot conducted a forced landing in a park. The airplane subsequently struck a light pole and an embankment. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel lines were clear flexible plastic and that an in-line fuel filter was installed between the firewall and the carburetor. When first examined, the fuel line between the filter and the carburetor contained a kinked bend of about 90 degrees, which effectively choked the fuel line and prevented fuel from reaching the carburetor. The filter moved easily with very light force, and when moved manually about an inch fore and aft, the fuel line kinked and unkinked. Although the engine was not started due to the damage to the airplane, the engine turned over easily when the pull starter was activated.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel filter › strainer › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0CL3 Chula Vista CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 0CL3 Chula Vista CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KSDM, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR12LA441.