Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bradenton, Florida 34301
Saturday, September 12, 1998 16:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot/operator, about 1600 on September 12, 1998, he was preparing to take another pilot on a familiarization flight to demonstrate his company's flight operations. The second pilot handled the preflight inspection. The pilot observed the inspection, but did not notice any water being drained from the fuel tanks. The first pilot, who was a student rated pilot, stated that he was the pilot in command (PIC) and planned to depart the field to the east, and climb to an altitude around 400-500 feet. The engine was running fine and the takeoff was normal. About 50-100 feet above ground level (AGL) the pilot stated that it was like someone had 'pulled the throttle back' and the engine quit. Due to trees on the extended centerline of the turf runway, the pilot put the airplane in a left turn. After turning about 45 degrees, he stated that the two men 'became passengers' as the airplane descended and crashed in a field.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/12/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BRADENTON
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34301
Event Date Year 1998
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID SPG
Elevation of weather observation facility 159
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation GMT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2221
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 475
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 12 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6080T
NTSB Number ATL98LA124
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 150E
Aircraft Series Identifier 150E
Aircraft Serial Number 15060780
Certified Max Gross Weight 1760
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 Jul 27 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9688
Airframe Hours 7998
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM M. BRUCKNER, JR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4785 56TH AVE.N.
Aircraft Owner City ST. PETERSBURG
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33714
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLORIDA AERIAL ADVERTISING INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7109 39 TH. AVE. N.
Operator City ST. PETERSBURG
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33709
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City BRADENTON
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
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 --