Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Frederick, Maryland 21701
Sunday, May 9, 1993 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BOTH THE PREFLIGHT AND RUN UP INSPECTIONS WERE ACCOMPLISHED SUCCESSFULLY. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AT ABOUT 900 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE REVERSED DIRECTION TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT DECIDED TO LAND IN A FIELD. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND THE AIRPLANE FELL TO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BY THE FAA REVEALED CONTAMINANTS CONSISTING OF DIRT AND WATER IN BOTH THE FUEL TANK AND GASCOLATOR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE CROSSWIND TURN WAS MADE SOONER, AND THE FUEL TANKS WERE COMPLETELY DRAINED PERIODICALLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT AND FUEL CONTAMINATION, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FREDERICK
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21701
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
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) 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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 301
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 9 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50371
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N28681
NTSB Number BFO93LA078
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 de Havilland
Aircraft Model DH-82A
Aircraft Series Identifier DH-82A
Aircraft Serial Number PG 621-81
Certified Max Gross Weight 1825
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 19 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1427
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BERNARD PAIEWONSKY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9309 BURNING TREE RD.
Aircraft Owner City BETHESDA
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20817
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BERNARD PAIEWONSKY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 9309 BURNING TREE RD
Operator City BETHESDA
Operator State MD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 20817
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 1200
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --