Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Keizer, Oregon 97303
Friday, September 10, 1999 15:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the cruise climb, the engine suddenly experienced a short roughness and partial power loss. The engine then regained full power, followed by a complete power loss. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and a forced landing was initiated to an open field. As the aircraft continued to descend, the pilot realized that he would not make the field and diverted to the river. The pilot had been utilizing the amphibian aircraft as a land plane and had not retracted the landing gear after departure. There was not enough time to hand crank the landing gear up. Therefore, the aircraft landed with the gear extended. During the landing on the water, the aircraft nosed over. Post-crash inspection of the engine found a loose fuel line fitting to the fuel pump.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loose fuel line fitting resulted in a loss of engine power. An intentional wheels down landing was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City KEIZER
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97303
Event Date Year 1999
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1556 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID SLE
Elevation of weather observation facility 214
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
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) 1033
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 10 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1640
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3451
NTSB Number SEA99LA161
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 Wild Goose
Aircraft Model A1
Aircraft Series Identifier A1
Aircraft Serial Number 337
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 19 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 470
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREGORY A. LAMBERT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3282 25TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City SALEM
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97302
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SLE
Departure City SALEM
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --