Scoda Aeronautical Super Petrel accident near Lancaster, California, August 25, 2019
On August 25, 2019 at about 9:05 pm local time, a 2017 Scoda Aeronautical Super Petrel, registered N632MM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Lancaster, California (General Wm J Fox Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper sealing of both carburetor bowls, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2019 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, California · General Wm J Fox Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Scoda Aeronautical Super Petrel, built 2017
- Registration
- N632MM · no longer on the register · serial S0355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the pilot was descending toward the destination airport near the conclusion of the cross-country flight, the engine lost total power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field, during which the right wing sustained substantial damage. During postaccident engine test runs, the engine lost power at high rpm settings. When the carburetor bowls were resealed, the engine ran with no anomalies noted. Both carburetor float bowls displayed contamination that likely affected the fuel flow to the engine; however, the extent to which the contamination contributed to the loss of engine power was not able to be determined during the investigation.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pressure › Failure
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,280 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 165 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 UL2 (piston); 165 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L70 Agua Dulce CA
- Destination: WJF Lancaster CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KWJF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on May 24, 2022. 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 | Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Attachment 1 to Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report -- Tabular Data | data file | Download |
| 3 | Attachment 2 to Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report -- Alert Data | data file | Download |
| 4 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Examination Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 2 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.