Amateur-built D accident near Lincoln, California, October 5, 2014
On October 5, 2014 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1972 amateur-built D, registered N3RH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lincoln, California (Lincoln Rgnl/Karl Harder Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from debris restricting the fuel flow within the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2014 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, California · Lincoln Rgnl/Karl Harder Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built D UNDESIGNAT, built 1972 · all Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3RH · registry record · serial REH-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following an uneventful takeoff and straight-out departure, the pilot leveled the airplane about 1,000 ft above ground level, at which point, the engine began to sputter, and it subsequently lost power. The pilot initiated a return to the departure airport; however, due to the low altitude, he initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. During the landing, the main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the gascolator screen and fuel outlet port were partially restricted with red, sandlike debris, which would have restricted the fuel flow to the carburetor and led to the loss of engine power.
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 (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel filter › strainer › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,487 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,487 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 484 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 8, 2014; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 632 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C75 (piston); 1,264 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHM Lincoln CA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: LHM Lincoln CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KSMF, 16 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.
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 WPR15LA003.