History of Flight
On November 21, 2010, at about 1744 Pacific standard time, a Beech 19A, registration N6064N, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Newport Beach, California, following a total loss of engine power on approach to John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA), Santa Ana, California. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Dark nighttime visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight, which originated from Calexico International Airport (CXL), Calexico, California, about 1447 with an intended destination of Torrance, California.
Several days before the accident, the pilot had flown to Mexico from his home base at Zamperini Field Airport (TOA) in Torrance, California, accompanied by two passengers. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed San Felipe International Airport, Baja California, Mexico, after obtaining fuel. En route to Torrance, he planned to land at CXL, an uncontrolled international airport of entry into the United States.
While en route to CXL, the pilot communicated with a U.S.-based automated flight service station, reporting an estimated arrival time of 1400 and a planned cruise altitude of 6,500 feet mean sea level. About 8 minutes before the accident, the pilot contacted the SNA air traffic control tower, reporting his position approximately 5 miles southwest of the airport. The controller assigned a transponder code and instructed the pilot to make left traffic for runway 19L. Approximately 2 minutes later, the pilot twice informed the controller that the airplane had run out of fuel. The pilot stated that he would try to reach the airport, but the airplane descended and struck terrain.
A witness located about three-quarters of a mile southeast of the accident site observed the airplane flying in a northwesterly direction at low altitude. The witness reported hearing the engine sputter without revving, then losing sight of the airplane as it descended.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, low-wing, fixed-gear Beech 19A (serial number MB-388) was manufactured in 1968 and powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2C engine rated at 150 horsepower, equipped with a Sensenich fixed-pitch propeller. According to the owner's manual, the airplane had two 30-gallon fuel tanks (58.8 gallons usable).
A fuel lineman at CXL reported that after the airplane landed around 1405, he added 20.0 gallons of fuel to the right wing tank at the pilot's request, but was not instructed to top off the tank or add fuel to the left wing tank. The lineman noted that the right tank was not full after the addition. The total fuel quantity before departure from CXL is unknown.
The most recent annual inspection was completed on June 15, 2010, at an airframe total time of 3,624.3 hours and engine time since major overhaul of 601.1 hours.
Pilot Information
The 58-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and a third-class medical certificate issued on November 6, 2009, with no limitations. He reported 400 total flight hours; his logbook showed 79.4 hours since November 10, 2009, and 10.9 hours in the 60 days preceding the accident.
Meteorological Information
At 1753, the automated weather observation station at SNA reported wind from 250 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, a scattered cloud layer at 3,900 feet, temperature 17°C, dew point 5°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.07 inches of mercury. Official sunset occurred at 1646, with civil twilight ending at 1713. Low tide at Balboa Pier was at 1508.
Wreckage and Impact
The accident site was located about 2.7 miles south-southwest of SNA in the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. The airplane came to rest inverted in approximately 3 feet of water. First responders reported low tide conditions at the time, allowing access to the partially submerged airplane. The airplane was later recovered and examined.
Examination revealed continuity of control cables and engine controls. The propeller blades showed no leading edge nicks or chordwise abrasions. The engine crankshaft rotated, and internal component continuity was confirmed. The gascolator fuel screen was mostly free of contaminants, and the fuel tank selector rotated freely. No fuel was found in the main fuel line or wing tanks, though the tanks contained an unmeasured amount of water. Several ounces of fuel were found in the carburetor bowl and accelerator pump assembly. Mechanical continuity was established throughout the engine.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Orange County Coroner conducted an autopsy on the pilot on November 23, 2010, determining the cause of death as drowning. Toxicological tests performed by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, volatiles, and drugs.