Ferguson Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pensacola, Florida 32506
Monday, September 16, 1996 6:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he performed a preflight of the airplane, which included checking each fuel tank twice and the fuel strainer three times for contaminants. He stated he only observed a few drops of water during the first sample from the fuel strainer. He also stated that he performed an engine run-up before takeoff with no discrepancies noted. He applied full power to takeoff. The flight climbed to about 150 to 200 feet above ground level. When the flight was about 3/4 down the runway, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot then initiated a descent for a forced landing, and the airplane collided with trees about 1/2 mile south of the runway. Postcrash examination of the engine revealed water and debris contamination in the carburetor. The carburetor was bench tested, which revealed the fuel flow in pounds per hour to be less than the engine manufacturers limits. Review of the engine logbook revealed no entry to indicate that the carburetor had been overhauled since it was manufactured in February 1961. The FAA-PMA produced a service bulletin (non-mandatory) which stated that the carburetor must be overhauled when the engine is overhauled or 10 years, which ever is first.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power during the initial climb due to contamination in the carburetor. Trees in the emergency landing area were a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 645
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PENSACOLA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32506
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FERGUSON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 82J
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 180
Airport Elevation 27
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 647 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 59
Weather Observation Facility ID PNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 26
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1439
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 17 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1051
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N984WB
NTSB Number MIA96LA231
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22-108
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-108
Aircraft Serial Number 22-8398
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Mar 1 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1814
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLIFTON BODEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 17606 HILLIARD BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City LAKEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44107
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 82J
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 642
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ASN
Destination City TALLADEGA
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 18
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --