Oakland-Troy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Birmingham, Michigan 48009
Monday, July 26, 1993 19:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON A RAILROAD BED BETWEEN TWO RAILROAD TRACKS, WHERE THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN SERVICED WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL, WHICH WAS LISTED AS 87 OCTANE AND CONTAINED 10% ETHANOL. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFIED FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. TESTS SHOWED THAT ENGINE OPERATION WAS NOT RELIABLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL DUE TO VAPOR LOCK. AN FAA/PMI PERSON REPORTED THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE USE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE, THOUGH HE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY AUTOMOTIVE DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN IMPROPER GRADE OF FUEL WAS LOADED INTO THE AIRPLANE BY THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE RENTAL AIRPLANE, IMPROPER PLANNING AND/OR DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND SUBSEQUENT VAPOR LOCK IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THE AIRPLANE (FUEL SYSTEM - OTHER), WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/26/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1920
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BIRMINGHAM
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48009
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OAKLAND-TROY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7D2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 729
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1955 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID DET
Elevation of weather observation facility 625
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 893
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 26 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2233
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1976W
NTSB Number CHI93LA286
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model B19
Aircraft Series Identifier B19
Aircraft Serial Number MB-649
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
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 Mar 19 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 92
Airframe Hours 3547
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MACK C. GOODWIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2345 WINDEMERE
Aircraft Owner City BIRMINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48009
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MACK C. GOODWIN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2345 WINDEMERE
Operator City BIRMINGHAM
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48009
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 7D2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1915
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 7D2
Destination City
Destination State
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 27
Runway Length 3846
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --