Polly Ranch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Friendswood, Texas 77546
Monday, July 8, 1996 20:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was observed to approach the airport at less than traffic pattern altitude. During the turn from the downwind leg to the base leg, the engine quit. The airplane collided with a tree near the end of the runway. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor flow jet needle was displaced 15 degrees from the desired setting. The cause of the displacement was not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to attain the proper traffic pattern altitude on the downwind leg prior to turning the base leg.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2035
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FRIENDSWOOD
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77546
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport POLLY RANCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 24
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 529
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 8 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N30155
NTSB Number FTW96LA294
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 O'Day
Aircraft Model SONERAI II-LS
Aircraft Series Identifier SONERAI II
Aircraft Serial Number 1284
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
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 May 31 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 81
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KERRY O'DAY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5607 RIVERGATE
Aircraft Owner City SPRING
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77373
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ELDON D. CRISWELL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6210 SUNNYCREST ST.
Operator City HOUSTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77087
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 No
Departure Airport Code T02
Departure City CLOVER FIELD
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 2025
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 29
Runway Length 2700
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --