Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeland, Florida 33824
Tuesady, April 7, 1992 14:54 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTICED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, AND HE TURNED IT ON. THE ENGINE FAILED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PERFORM PRETAKEOFF PROCEDURES AND ASSURE THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S COMPLACENCY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/7/1992
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1454
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LAKELAND
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33824
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID LAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 150
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
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) 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45911
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83BT
NTSB Number MIA92LA106
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 TOMLINSON
Aircraft Model LONG EZ
Aircraft Series Identifier LONG EZ
Aircraft Serial Number 361
Certified Max Gross Weight 1425
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Jan 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 152
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM ODUM
Aircraft Owner Street Address 355 PALM BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City MERRITT ISLAND
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33952
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FRED I. MAHAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 625 LYCHEE PLACE
Operator City MERRITT ISLAND
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32952
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code COI
Destination City MERRITT ISLAND
Destination State FL
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 --