Chatham Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chatham, Massachusetts 02633
Thursday, December 11, 1997 17:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was departing from runway 6, a 3,001 foot asphalt runway. According to the pilot, during rotation, the airplane's engine lost power. He then retarded the throttle and mixture control, and the airplane returned to the runway. The pilot applied heavy braking and elevator back pressure; however, the airplane continued past the departure end of the runway and went into a ditch. Examination of the airplane, which included an engine run-up, did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction. Winds at the airport were reported to be from 300 degrees at 4 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The tail wind component and an encounter with a ditch were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/11/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CHATHAM
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02633
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CHATHAM MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CQX
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 68
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1652 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CQX
Elevation of weather observation facility 68
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
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 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) 1387
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 15 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N20710
NTSB Number NYC98LA042
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier 182P
Aircraft Serial Number 18261146
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Nov 24 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 19
Airframe Hours 5264
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR SERVICE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 240 GEORGE RYDER RD.
Aircraft Owner City CHATHAM
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02633
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN SZEGDA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 219 LOWER ROAD
Operator City BREWSTER
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 02631
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 CQX
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EWB
Destination City NEW BEDFORD
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 6
Runway Length 3001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --