Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newport, Maine 04967
Saturday, July 1, 1989 18:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS DEPARTING A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 25 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST POWER SUDDENLY. THE PILOT CHECKED THE FUEL SHUTOFF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ON AND HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY USING THE PRIMER. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART AND THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE TREES. THE SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S GASCOLATER WAS ONE-THIRD FULL OF WATER AND A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE RUN SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SUPPLY WAS CONTAMINATED BY WATER AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/1/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEWPORT
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04967
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 15000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
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) 2343
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 1 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42416
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 N43562
NTSB Number NYC89LA153
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 TAYLORCRAFT
Aircraft Model BC-12D
Aircraft Series Identifier BC-12D
Aircraft Serial Number 7221
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 Feb 1 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALTON E. CIANCHETTE
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 3 BOX 699
Aircraft Owner City NEWPORT
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04953
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 NONE
Departure City NEWPORT
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2B7
Destination City PITTSFIELD
Destination State ME
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 --