Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Hanover, New Jersey 08016
Friday, February 26, 1988 17:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENG LOST POWER WHILE THE ACFT WAS CIRCLING AT APRX 1500 FT AGL & THE OCCUPANTS WERE ENGAGED IN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SWAMPY AREA. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE RIGHT TANK HAD AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF FUEL WHICH APPEARED TO BE MORE THAN USABLE FUEL; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RESTING ON THE GROUND, RIGHT WING LOW. THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK CONTAINED A NOTE ABOUT FLYING WITH THE SELECTOR ON BOTH. IT STATED 'UNEQUAL FUEL FLOW FROM EACH TANK MAY OCCUR IF THE WINGS ARE NOT MAINTAINED EXACTLY LEVEL. RESULTING WING HEAVINESS CAN BE ALLEVIATED GRADUALLY BY TURNING THE SELECTOR VALVE HANDLE TO THE TANK IN THE 'HEAVY' WING.' THE ACFT HAD BEEN 'TOPPED' WITH FUEL PRIOR TO THE FLT & HAD FLOWN 3.5 HRS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/26/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NORTH HANOVER
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08016
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2203
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 26 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1844
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38794
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N738MX
NTSB Number NYC88LA094
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17270094
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 Jan 29 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 2550
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MISTRIAL AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address LINDEN AIRPORT RT 1 BOX 86
Aircraft Owner City LINDEN
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07036
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MISTRAL AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address LINDEN AIRPORT, BOX 86
Operator City LINDEN
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07036
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 LDJ
Departure City LINDEN
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --