Canaan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Canaan, Connecticut 06018
Saturday, May 20, 1989 14:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE GROUND SHORT OF A HILL ON THE LEFT WING SPINNING THE AIRPLANE & COLLAPSING THE GEAR. POST CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED FUEL IN THE TANKS AND SUMPS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE STRAINER WAS DRAINED, THE FUEL CONTAINED A LOT OF CONTAMINANTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CANAAN
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06018
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CANAAN
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
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) 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) 1752
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 23 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40772
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 N4742C
NTSB Number NYC89LA133
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 NAVAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY
Aircraft Model N3N
Aircraft Series Identifier N3N
Aircraft Serial Number 1970
Certified Max Gross Weight 2792
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 Jul 23 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LAWRENCE SMITH, III
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 BREEZY HILL RD.
Aircraft Owner City COLLINSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06022
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STANLEY SEGALLA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MAIN STREET
Operator City NEW CANAAN
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06018
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
Departure City CANAAN
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Approach
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 --