Aeroflex-Andover Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Andover, New Jersey 07821
Wednesday, August 30, 1995 9:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS GIVING A TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE CHECKOUT TO A PRIVATE PILOT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 400 FEET. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND HE FORCED LANDED ATOP OF TREES SHORT OF AN OPEN FIELD HE TRIED TO REACH. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND DRAINED LESS THAN 2 QUARTS OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CFI STATED THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT THE FUEL GAGE INDICATED ONE-QUARTER FULL TANK. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL OF THE 8-INCH DEEP FUEL TANK WAS 2 INCHES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight instructor's inadequate preflight which failed to detect an inadequate fuel supply which subsequently resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 925
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ANDOVER
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07821
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AEROFLEX-ANDOVER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 12N
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 330
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 749
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84935
NTSB Number NYC95LA208
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 AERONCA
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7AC
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-3657
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 2 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 990
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHAMP AERO INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 88 RICHARD STREET
Aircraft Owner City DOVER
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07801
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ANDOVER FLIGHT ACADEMY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address AEROFLEX-ANDOVER AIRPORT
Operator City ANDOVER
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07821
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 12N
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 924
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 13N
Destination City
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --