Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Homestead, Florida 33030
Saturday, February 25, 1989 17:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CLIMBING TO CRUISE THE PLT REPORTED THE ENG LOST POWER THEN QUIT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER TOUCHDOWN DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AFTER A TEMPORARY FUEL SUPPLY WAS CONNECTED TO THE ENG, ATTEMPTS TO RUN IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL WITHOUT PUMPING THE THROTTLE. THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED & DISASSEMBLY REVEALED A STICKING NEEDLE VALVE. AFTER REASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION, THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY. PRIOR TO THE ACFT PURCHASE BY THE FLIGHT SCHOOL, THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY A STICKING NEEDLE VALVE WHICH WAS SOFTENED BY CONTACT WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL PREVIOUSLY USED TO OPERATE THE ENGINE.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 2/25/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City HOMESTEAD
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33030
Event Date Year 1989
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1647 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 89
Weather Observation Facility ID TMB
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
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) 0
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) 5009
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38807
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N734MC
NTSB Number MIA89IA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17268952
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 Feb 21 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 1671
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRSHIP VENTURES LTD.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2316 BAYNARD BLVD
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19802
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SAVCO FLYING CO.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7750 PINES BLVD
Operator City PEMBROKE PINES
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33024
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code X01
Destination City EVERGLADES CITY
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --