Lewis Landing Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Middletown, New York 10940
Tuesady, November 7, 2000 11:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, started the engine, and let it idle for 10 minutes. He then taxied to the runway, performed a run-up, and departed. About 150 feet above the ground, the engine lost all power. Examination of the wreckage by a FAA inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The inspector noted that sufficient fuel was onboard the airplane, and there was no evidence of fuel contamination. The pilot reported that the engine was manufactured in 1963, and had approximately 800 hours of operation since overhaul. The owner stated that the last overhaul was performed sometime during the 1970's. A witness reported that the fuel valve was in the 'on' position when he first arrived at the accident site. The pilot believed that the fuel valve might have vibrated partially closed during the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/7/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MIDDLETOWN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 10940
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 LEWIS LANDING AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NK79
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 60
Airport Elevation 880
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID MSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1404
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
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) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1136
NTSB Notification Source FAA - Eastern Region Comm Cent
NTSB Notification Date Nov 7 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1505
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 10 2001 4:42PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N33538
NTSB Number NYC01LA031
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 2366-A
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 1286
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GORDON W. BRUCE
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 521, BOX 150
Aircraft Owner City NEWTON
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07860
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 No
Departure Airport Code NK79
Departure City SLATE HILL
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2001 4:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --