Nassau Bay Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Granbury, Texas 76049
Saturday, January 23, 1999 10:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At departure the right fuel tank was empty, the left fuel tank contained 17 gallons, and the fuel selector was positioned to the 'BOTH' position for takeoff. After takeoff, the pilot selected the left fuel tank. Within 2 to 3 minutes after takeoff, the engine began to 'run rough and sputter.' Emergency checklist procedures did not restore engine power. Power lines crossed the approach path for the runway selected for the forced landing. The airspeed decreased as the airplane cleared the power lines and the airplane landed 'hard' on the runway. Flight control continuity was confirmed. There was continuity of fuel flow throughout the fuel system. No physical evidence of fuel leakage was found. Engine continuity was confirmed and no discrepancies were found that would prevent engine operation. The carburetor was flow tested and disassembled. No fuel flow test variations or discrepancies were noted that would prevent operation of the carburetor.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to an undetermined reason. A factor was the power lines crossing the final approach path.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/23/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GRANBURY
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76049
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NASSAU BAY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 714
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 185
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 23 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1310
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52170
NTSB Number FTW99LA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180J
Aircraft Series Identifier 180J
Aircraft Serial Number 18052534
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 9 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 6305
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES R. ROBINSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6009 ROLLINS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City GRANBURY
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76049
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 300
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --