Sanford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Florida 32771
Sunday, May 1, 1994 15:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF AND HE TURNED BACK TO THE AIRPORT BUT COULD NOT MAKE IT. HE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. EXAMINATION OF THE COCKPIT REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO USE THE CHECKLIST BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE FUEL SELECTOR BEING IN THE OFF POSITION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/1/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1535
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SANFORD
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32771
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SANFORD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 55
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1540 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SFB
Elevation of weather observation facility 20
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 336
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 1 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1720
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N323ET
NTSB Number MIA94LA129
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name TAYLOR
Aircraft Model OSPREY
Aircraft Series Identifier OSPREY
Aircraft Serial Number 1201
Certified Max Gross Weight 1274
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 20 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 35
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TAYLOR, WILLIAM E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 CARLI COURT
Aircraft Owner City LAKE MARY
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32746
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TAYLOR, WILLIAM E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 101 CARLI COURT
Operator City LAKE MARY
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32746
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1534
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Takeoff
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 9R
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --