Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Derry, New Hampshire 03038
Friday, September 20, 1996 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the takeoff climb, at an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the engine lost power; and during a forced landing, the aircraft stuck trees. A postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed the main fuel line from the fuel strainer to the carburetor was full of water. Also disclosed was two fuel leaks on the top of the right wing. According to the pilot/owner, he had noticed the seeping of fuel before the accident. The aircraft had been parked for a few weeks before this accident. This area had experienced heavy rain recently.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect water contaminated fuel, and resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's operation of the aircraft with a known deficiency that consisted of a fuel tank leak.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DERRY
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03038
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
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 425
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID MHT
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 12
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1448
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 20 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
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 N2738K
NTSB Number NYC96LA187
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 180K
Aircraft Series Identifier 180K
Aircraft Serial Number 53052
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 1524
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWIN SIMONSEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 82 DAMREN ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DERRY
Aircraft Owner State NH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 03038
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LEW
Destination City AUBURN
Destination State ME
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 1100
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --