Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denton, Maryland 21629
Wednesday, June 10, 1992 12:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE, AND MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. DURING GROUND ROLLOUT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DITCH NOT VISIBLE FROM THE AIR AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THREE PISTONS HAD EXPERIENCED THE EFFECTS OF DETONATION. WHEN INTERVIEWED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT INITIALLY TOLD THE SAFETY BOARD HE WAS USING 100LL AV GAS; HOWEVER, HE LATER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HIS BROTHER HAD FUELED THE AIRPLANE WITH AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID HE DID NOT DETECT THE AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE DURING THE PREFLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DETECT THE AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE IN THE TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AND INTENTIONAL REFUELING WITH IMPROPER FUEL BY THE PILOT'S BROTHER WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSE OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO DETONATION AND LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/10/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DENTON
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21629
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
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 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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2090
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 10 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46882
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:00PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4552X
NTSB Number NYC92LA107
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-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7680027
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 13 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3536
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT F/RITA J. WOZNIAK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2402 CAROLYNE AVE
Aircraft Owner City BALTIMORE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21219
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT WOZNIAK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2402 CAROLYN AVE
Operator City BALITMORE
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 21219
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 No
Departure Airport Code N80
Departure City OCEAN CITY
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code W48
Destination City BALTIMORE
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --