Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carrizozo, New Mexico 88316
Monday, November 30, 1998 8:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that the engine was 'strong' during the takeoff roll. He said that shortly after liftoff the engine sputtered once, and then quit. He performed a forced landing, and the right main landing gear impacted plant roots during the landing roll. A member of the National Navion Association said that if a pilot attempts a takeoff with the fuel selector on one of the tip tanks, the engine will quit soon after takeoff. The POH directs the pilot to takeoff with the fuel selector on a main fuel tank. The fuel selector was found on the right main fuel tank. The pilot said that he was adjusting the mixture during the takeoff roll. No abnormalities were identified with the engine which would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/30/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CARRIZOZO
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88316
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 11
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 752 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID ROW
Elevation of weather observation facility 3669
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 80
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1637
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 1 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 843
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2PE
NTSB Number DEN99LA022
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 Ryan
Aircraft Model NAVION A
Aircraft Series Identifier NAVION A
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-1999
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 15 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONRAD M. CURTIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 581
Aircraft Owner City CAPITAN
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33198
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code Q37
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LRU
Destination City LAS CRUCES
Destination State NM
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --