Lake Placid Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Elba, New York 12946
Saturday, July 8, 2000 18:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Four hours and 10 minutes after takeoff, witnesses described the airplane as it maneuvered power-off to the ninth hole of the golf course located 1 mile south of the destination airport. The witnesses described the airplane's abrupt pitch and bank angle changes prior to its collision with the fairway. According to the owner's manual, the airplane's fuel capacity was 39 gallons, of which 36 gallons were usable. Examination of the Cruise and Range Performance Chart in the owner's manual revealed that at a 67 percent power setting, the airplane consumed 7.6 gallons per hour. Fuel consumption calculated for a four-hour flight was 30.4 gallons. The chart does not reflect the extra fuel required for start-up, taxi, run-up, take-off and climb to altitude. Examination of fuel records and conversation with the fixed base operator revealed the airplane was 'topped off' prior to the 4-hour first leg. The airplane was serviced with 20 gallons of fuel prior to the return leg. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies, and less than 1-gallon of fuel was recovered from the fuel system. The flaps were fully retracted. The ninth hole was 455 yards long and oriented east-west on a straight line from tee to green. According to the owner's manual, the procedure for a short field landing was: '...make a power-off approach at approximately 67 MPH with flaps 40 [degrees], and land on the main wheels first. Immediately after touchdown, lower the nose gear to the ground and apply heavy braking as required.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and exhaustion of his fuel supply.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/8/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1805
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORTH ELBA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12946
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport LAKE PLACID AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LKP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 1744
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1751 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID SLK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1663
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2173
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11145
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Com Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 8 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1921
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 4 2001 12:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4198L
NTSB Number IAD00LA057
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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 172-54267
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 8 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 5163
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DUCT TAPE ERR INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 SILVERSIDE ROAD STE 105
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DCA
Departure City WASHINGTON
Departure State DC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1355
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LKP
Destination City LAKE PLACID
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 9 2001 4:02AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4200
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --