Gordonsville Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gordonsville, Virginia 22942
Tuesady, June 1, 1993 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET AGL, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A FIELD, BOUNCED INTO THE AIR, AND FLEW INTO TREES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT FUEL WOULD NOT FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR WITH THE FUEL TURNED ON AND THE ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP ON. CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL STRAINER. THE PILOT USED AUTO GAS WHICH WAS PLACED INTO CANS AND THEN POURED INTO THE WING TANKS WITHOUT BEING RUN THROUGH A FILTER OR STRAINER. ACCORDING TO THE STC FOR AUTO GAS, WHEN REFUELING FROM CANS, THE FUEL SHOULD BE FILTERED OR RUN THROUGH A CHAMOIS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

WAS A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION, AFTER THE PILOT REFUELED FROM CANS AND DID NOT FILTER THE FUEL ACCORDING TO RECOMMENDATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/1/1993
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GORDONSVILLE
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22942
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GORDONSVILLE MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GVE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 454
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 288
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1135
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52284
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9830W
NTSB Number NYC93LA098
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-23334
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Feb 18 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 3650
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JEFFREY COTTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 4, BOX 198F
Aircraft Owner City CHARLOTTESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES D. BAILEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 748
Operator City GORDONSVILLE
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22942
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 GVE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code W93
Destination City ORANGE CO.
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight 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 22
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --