Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rockville, Maryland 20852
Saturday, February 19, 1994 9:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED DRAINING THE MAIN FUEL SUMP. HE STATED THAT HE DOES NOT RECALL DRAINING THE INDIVIDUAL FUEL DRAINS OF THE MAIN FUEL TANKS. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED THE FIRST LEG OF THE TRIP SUCCESSFULLY; HOWEVER, EN ROUTE TO THE NEXT STOP AT 2000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE USING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. HE STATED THAT HE LOOKED FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND, BUT FOUND NONE, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN TREES. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SOME TREES AND CAME TO REST IN THE FRONT YARD OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL SELECTOR AND CARBURETOR FILTER SCREEN. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN AND IT OPERATED SATISFACTORY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 950
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ROCKVILLE
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20852
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 800
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID IAD
Elevation of weather observation facility 313
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1608
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 19 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:38AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5962C
NTSB Number BFO94FA043
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model C35
Aircraft Series Identifier C35
Aircraft Serial Number D-3323
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 29 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 6400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM R CANDA
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 127
Aircraft Owner City WESTCLIFFE
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81252
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM R CANDA
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 127
Operator City WESTCLIFFE
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 81252
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LNS
Departure City LANCASTER
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 905
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HEF
Destination City MANASSAS
Destination State VA
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --