Camden County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Berlin, New Jersey 08009
Saturday, November 4, 2000 11:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that prior to takeoff he checked the fuel supply. The wing tanks were half full, and the fuselage tank, which supplied the engine was full. The pilot further reported that about 5 minutes after takeoff, the engine started to sputter. He checked the tank selector and applied carburetor heat. However, no change in engine performance was experienced, and he headed toward an airport. The engine subsequently lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing in a wooded area. A mechanic who went to the accident site reported one wing tank was empty, and the other was broken open with very little fuel leakage. The fuselage tank was laying nearby, but the mechanic but did not check it for fuel. The mechanic also reported the pilot used automotive gasoline in the airplane. When the airplane was checked by the FAA 6 days later, the fuselage tank had disappeared and could not be located. The FAA inspector reported no blockage in the fuel lines, and fuel was in the lines to the fuel pump. The carburetor bowl was empty, and the spark plugs were gray in appearance with no sooting. The relative humidity was between 65 & 70 percent.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/4/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1140
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BERLIN
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08009
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport CAMDEN COUNTY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 19N
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 360
Airport Elevation 150
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID PHL
Elevation of weather observation facility 22
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 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) 720
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern Region
NTSB Notification Date Nov 4 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1531
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N306K
NTSB Number NYC01LA026
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 Dever
Aircraft Model FIREFLY
Aircraft Series Identifier FIREFLY
Aircraft Serial Number 003
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 3 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 994
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KOICHI SADASHIGE
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City VOORHEES
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08043
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 19N
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2001 4:07AM
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 --