Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Centreville, Alabama 35042
Friday, June 23, 1989 17:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE HE WAS PERFORMING TURNS. A FORCED LDG WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MADE IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT DURING THE LDG AND NOSED OVER. THE STUDENT ATTRIBUTED THE PWR LOSS TO WATER IN THE FUEL. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD DRAINED ABOUT 1 PINT OF WATER FROM ONE OF THE TANKS DURING PRE-FLT INSPECTION, AND THAT HE ROCKED THE WINGS AND LOWERED THE TAIL DURING THE INSPECTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE ALL REMAINING WATER. THE STUDENT NOTED THAT A LOT OF RAIN HAD FALLEN OVER THE PRECEDING 2 WEEKS, AND THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE WITH LESS-THAN-FULL TANKS DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. A MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE MISHAP REPORTED THAT HE FOUND WATER IN THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL TANK FILLER-CAP GASKETS WERE INTACT AND PLIABLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO REMOVE ALL REMAINING WATER FROM THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM DURING PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH LED TO A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/23/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CENTREVILLE
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35042
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
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 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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1681
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 23 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2016
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40584
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N70RS
NTSB Number ATL89LA168
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 46470
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 Dec 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 3258
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEE, CHARLES D
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR1 BOX 224B
Aircraft Owner City CENTREVILLE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35042
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEE, CHARLES D.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT. 1, BOX 224B
Operator City CENTREVILLE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35042
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 OA8
Departure City CENTREVILLE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone ADT
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --