New Garden Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania 19374
Friday, October 2, 1998 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After the airplane was preflighted, the SP started the engine, and taxied the airplane for takeoff. After checking both magnetos, the SP executed the takeoff. The airplane accelerated normally, but after, but approximately 60 feet above the ground, the CFI felt a loss of power. He took control of the airplane, extended the flaps, and started to slip the airplane. While slipping the airplane, the CFI confirmed that the primmer was in, the fuel pump was on, and the fuel selector was on the right tank. The airplane touched down passed the departure end of the runway then went over a 30 foot drop-off nose first. No mechanical failures were detected when the engine was examined. The fuel strainer was found locked in the open position, which would allow the engine fuel pump to suck air. The pilot's operating hand states that during the preflight the pilot should drain the fuel strainer.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspections which failed to detect an open fuel strainer valve, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TOUGHKENAMON
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19374
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NEW GARDEN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N57
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 436
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1520 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 84
Weather Observation Facility ID PHL
Elevation of weather observation facility 5
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1211
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 5 1998 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 11 2000 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2535A
NTSB Number NYC99LA003
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-78A0738
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 May 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 4067
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NEW GARDEN AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 481 NEWARK RD
Aircraft Owner City TOUGHKENAMON
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19374
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code N57
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 3695
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --