Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manchester, Vermont 05254
Saturday, October 26, 1991 16:48 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT CRUISE ALTITUDE WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AND FOUND THE OIL CAP WAS 'LOOSE'. HE SAID HE TIGHTENED THE CAP AND CHECKED THE OIL. JUST AFTER TAKING OFF AGAIN AT ABOUT 200 FEET THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE AGAIN. HE ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, BUT WAS TOO LOW TO MAKE THE INTENDED LANDING SITE AND STRUCK TREES DURING THE DESCENT. THE FAA EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE AND FOUND THE OIL CAP OPEN. THE FAA REINSTALLED THE CAP, FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE SEAL, AND SAID THE CAP '..HAD A POSITIVE LOCK'. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 85 FLIGHT HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/26/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1648
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MANCHESTER
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05254
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 18
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1907
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45846
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N70548
NTSB Number NYC92LA019
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 J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier J3C-65
Aircraft Serial Number 17557
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 13 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 3903
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD J. BOUEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 842
Aircraft Owner City WELLS
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05774
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD J. BOUEY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 842
Operator City WELLS
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05774
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 BO1
Departure City GRANVILLE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
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 Approach
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 --