Accident Details
Date
Sunday, January 19, 1992
NTSB Number
LAX92FA094
Location
SANTA MONICA, CA
Event ID
20001211X14000
Coordinates
34.009311, -118.460945
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
Highest Injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2
Probable Cause and Findings
FUEL CONTAMINATION BY WATER DUE TO THE; 1) FAILURE OF THE FUEL CAPS TO PROPERLY SEAL AGAINST WATER INGESTION, 2) THE PILOTS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT SUFFICIENT TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE FUEL TANKS. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE INADEQUATE FUEL CAP/WELL DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE PILOTS REDUCED ABILITY TO VISUALLY SEE AND AVOID THE POWER POLE DUE TO THE PREVAILING LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Aircraft Information
Registration
N6481U
Make
MOONEY
Serial Number
2228
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Registered Owner (Historical)
Name
WIRGLER JEFFREY R
Address
1341 OCEAN AVE 357
Status
Deregistered
City
SANTA MONICA
State / Zip Code
CA 90405
Country
United States
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX92FA094