Sky Park Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Red Hook, New York 12571
Friday, November 13, 1992 17:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE 'SWITCHED OFF THE AIRCRAFT HEADLIGHT.' THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE STOPPING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH WAS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE LANDING LIGHT SWITCH; IT WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. THE BOOST PUMP WAS TESTED, AND IT OPERATED PROPERLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT DEACTIVATION OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DURING TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City RED HOOK
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12571
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SKY PARK AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 46N
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 323
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID POU
Elevation of weather observation facility 166
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 961
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 17 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1858
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52056
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N31634
NTSB Number BFO93LA008
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-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7816570
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 10 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 5379
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE DROBOT, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address SKYPARK AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City RED HOOK
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12571
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GEORGE DROBOT, JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address SKYPARK AIRPORT
Operator City RED HOOK
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 12571
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 46N
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1710
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 19
Runway Length 2664
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --