Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marsing, Idaho 83639
Saturday, August 10, 1996 18:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight had departed a private crop duster airstrip to survey fields that were going to be sprayed later that night and the next day. About five minutes later, a witness observed the aircraft cruising at a low altitude about the same height as the power poles. The witness heard the engine quit and observed the aircraft start a 180 degree turn toward an open field. During this turn, the engine started again for a short period of time and then quit again. The witness observed the aircraft wings rocking, and then the nose of the aircraft suddenly dropped and the aircraft impacted the ground in a steep descent. No reason was found for the reported loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s), and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in a stall and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MARSING
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83639
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1756 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 65
Weather Observation Facility ID BOI
Elevation of weather observation facility 2858
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 39
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1099
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 10 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1805
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2836E
NTSB Number SEA96FA185
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 Aeronca
Aircraft Model 7CCM
Aircraft Series Identifier 7CCM
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-6419
Certified Max Gross Weight 1350
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 2494
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY D. HUBLER/DIANN M. HUTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5011 HUBLER LANE
Aircraft Owner City CALDWELL
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83605
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5103 HUBLER LANE
Operator City CALDWELL
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83605
Operator Code VVEG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 64U
Departure City CALDWELL
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1810
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Maneuvering
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 --