Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

De Funiak Spgs, Florida 32433
Monday, September 2, 1991 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ENGINE QUIT WHILE PILOT WAS REDUCING POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. WHILE MANUEVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHERE IT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND ACCESSORIES OR THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND. THE CAUSE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT USING THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP AS CALLED FOR IN THE AIRCRAFT OPERATING CHECKLIST FOR TAKEOFF AND DID NOT TURN IT ON AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE AND THE GROUND DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DE FUNIAK SPGS
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32433
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID CEW
Elevation of weather observation facility 215
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1900
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) 600
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44418
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5103K
NTSB Number MIA91LA214
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 RYAN
Aircraft Model NAVION A
Aircraft Series Identifier NAVION A
Aircraft Serial Number 2003
Certified Max Gross Weight 3233
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 14 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2351
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DARRWLL R. JAMES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 105 WINDLAKE COURT
Aircraft Owner City NICEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32578
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DARRWLL R. JAMES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 105 WINDLAKE COURT
Operator City NICEVILLE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32578
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 1100
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 10:35AM
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 --