N8510

On June 17, 1995, at 1707 hours Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt experimental Tupta-Smith Miniplane DSA-1, N8510, collided with obstacles in a dry wash while attempting a forced landing at Pacoima, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power while in cruise. The aircraft was operated by the pilot and was on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at the Camarillo, California, airport on the day of the accident at 1645 as a cross-country flight to Pacoima.

In an initial telephone statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the pilot reported that he was in cruise flight when the engine suddenly lost power. He was attempting to land in a dry wash area in the city of Pacoima and collided with obstructions in the wash. The pilot said he thought the problem might be either fuel line blockage or fuel contamination.

All airports within a 30-mile radius of the airplane's base airport were contacted for records of aviation fuel purchases for the aircraft's registration number. No records were found.

Numerous subsequent attempts by FAA Inspectors and the National Transportation Safety Board to contact the pilot by phone and mail were unsuccessful. The pilot removed the aircraft from the accident site and it's whereabouts are unknown.