Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flint, Michigan 48505
Wednesday, October 31, 1990 9:17 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED FOR A CROSS COUNTRY PLEASURE FLIGHT WHEN, DURING ITS INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AS IT PASSED BY THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE WITNESSES THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE LEFT TURN, PITCH DOWN, LEVEL OFF AND THEN 'DROP INTO THE POWERLINES' ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE WITNESSES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES LOCATED IN A RAILROAD SWITCHING YARD. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN CONTACT WITH THESE LINES AS IT COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE AND SMALL BUILDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM. FACTOR(S) WERE: WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 917
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FLINT
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48505
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 925 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID FNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 782
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1641
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 31 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42973
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4325N
NTSB Number CHI91FA022
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 195
Aircraft Series Identifier 195
Aircraft Serial Number 7084
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAY L PETERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1214 W. PATERSON ST.
Aircraft Owner City FLINT
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48504
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RAY L. PETERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1214 W. PATERSON ST.
Operator City FLINT
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48504
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 916
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SJX
Destination City ST. JAMES
Destination State MI
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --