Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Wednesday, June 11, 1997 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was performing an aerial survey between 500 and 1,000 feet AGL. As he initiated a turn for the passenger to photograph seagrass, he noted a loss of altitude. He advanced the throttle to increase power, then noted that the engine had lost power. During a forced landing, the airplane struck trees in a wooded area and was damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed 6 to 7 gallons of fuel in the fuel tanks. No water or contamination was found in the fuel system. The temperature and dew point were 82 and 59 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions were conducive for carburetor ice. The carburetor heat control was found in the off position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, which resulted in accumulation of carburetor ice and subsequent loss of engine power. Related factors were: carburetor icing conditions, and trees in the emergency landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/11/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ANNAPOLIS
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21401
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1054 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 42
Weather Observation Facility ID BWI
Elevation of weather observation facility 146
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1373
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 11 1997 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 8 2000 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N37095
NTSB Number IAD97LA086
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 Luscombe
Aircraft Model LL-8-A
Aircraft Series Identifier LL-8-A
Aircraft Serial Number 1756
Certified Max Gross Weight 1260
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 Apr 18 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 1476
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JANICE COSTELLO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1423 SHARPS POINT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ANNAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21403
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID J WALLACE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 701 CHESAPEAKE AVE
Operator City ANNAPOLIS
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 21403
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 NONE
Departure City SEVERN
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --