Griffith Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Griffith, Indiana 46319
Wednesday, April 10, 1991 15:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR WAS SUFFICIENTLY CONTAMINATED WITH PARTICULATES TO PRECLUDE NORMAL OPERATION. THE AIRPLANE'S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY THE PILOT,WHO IS ALSO A LICENSED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, 15 SERVICE HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

CONTAMINATED FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR, AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/10/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRIFFITH
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46319
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRIFFITH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 05C
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 635
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2120
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43861
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1375F
NTSB Number CHI91LA129
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier 172G
Aircraft Serial Number 54870
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Aug 28 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 1458
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HOWARD T. BINSTOCK
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOWARD T. BINSTOCK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7614 MADISON AVE.
Operator City HAMMOND
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46324
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 1500
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VP1
Destination City VALPARAIZO
Destination State IN
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 8
Runway Length 4013
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --