VACAVILLE, CA, USA
N236BR
Diamond Aircraft Industries KATANA DA-20-A1
The flight instructor (CFI) and a rated pilot (student) were on a dual instructional flight and were returning from the practice area to the airport. About 4 miles from the airport, the engine lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane. He turned the fuel pump on, and the engine started and ran for about 2 minutes, then lost power again. The CFI made a forced landing on an unoccupied street. During the landing, the airplane collided with a street sign and a curbing. An FAA inspector reported the airplane was out of fuel. The inspector further stated that the student had questioned the instructor about the fuel quantity before the flight.
On July 22, 1996, about 1145 hours Pacific daylight time, a Katana DA-20-A1, N236BR, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing at Vacaville, California. Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight. According to an FAA inspector, the airplane was out of fuel. The inspector further stated that the student pilot had questioned the instructor about the fuel quantity prior to the flight. The instructor pilot reported that they were returning from the practice area, about 4 miles from the airport, and the engine quit. When he turned on the fuel pump the engine began to run again. Approximately 2 minutes later, the engine quit again. The instructor pilot chose to land on a vacant street and the airplane collided with a street sign and curbing.
improper planning/decision by the instructor pilot, which resulted in subsequent fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
