Gallup Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gallup, New Mexico 07301
Friday, February 23, 1990 11:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE SEIZED DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT ON A NEWLY REBUILT ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUN IN ON THE GROUND AND THE PILOT MADE THREE FULL POWER, STATIC RUNS BEFORE TAKEOFF. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE SAID THE SPARK PLUGS FROM CYLINDERS NUMBER 1, 3, & 5 SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HAVING RUN WITH A LEAN MIXTURE. THE NUMBER 3 & 5 CYLINDERS WERE SCUFFED AND METAL FROM THE PISTONS HAD TRANSFERRED TO THE CYLINDER WALLS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE ENGINE DURING PREFLIGHT PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE AND DAMAGE TO INTERNAL COMPONENTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GALLUP
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07301
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GALLUP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GUP
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 6480
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1107 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GUP
Elevation of weather observation facility 6480
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
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 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) 52
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 23 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40623
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:46PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9130A
NTSB Number DEN90LA064
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 170A
Aircraft Series Identifier 170A
Aircraft Serial Number 18889
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 23 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4475
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANK SCOTT
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 4035
Aircraft Owner City YAH-TA-HEY
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87375
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FRANK D. SCOTT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 4033
Operator City YAH-TA-HEY
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 87375
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GUP
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1055
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GUP
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 6
Runway Length 6300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --