Probable cause
The improper sealing of both carburetor bowls, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
NTSB analysis
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.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR19LA240 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 25, 2019
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lancaster, California
- Nearest airport
- General Wm J Fox Airfield (WJF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Super Petrel
- N-number
- N632MM
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2017
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.