Storch FL-156C accident near Upland, California, May 1, 2019
On May 1, 2019 at about 5:01 pm local time, a 2009 Storch FL-156C, registered N156LZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Upland, California (Cable airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper installation of the No. 3 cylinder valve cover, which resulted in an oil leak, oil starvation, and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2019 · about 5:01 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Storch FL-156C, built 2009
- Registration
- N156LZ · registry record · serial SA-001K
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost oil pressure and subsequently lost total power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to return to the airport, but the airplane touched down in a field and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed evidence of an oil leak. The leak likely came from the No. 3 cylinder, as the valve cover was loose, with a gap between the cylinder and the valve cover, which was likely the result of an improperly torqued allen screw. The improper torquing likely occurred during the pilot’s recent inspection of the crankcase throughbolts and re-installation of the engine’s four valve covers. Eventually, the No. 3 allen screw became loose during the engine run-up and continued to loosen during the taxi, takeoff, and climb phases of flight, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and a subsequent total loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
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 initial climb defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCB Upland CA at 5:01 pm
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 24, 3,863 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from CCB
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 WPR19LA129.