Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sullivan, New Hampshire
Monday, June 29, 1987 18:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE FLOAT EQUIPPED CITABRIA 7GCBC EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS WHEN HE ADDED POWER AND RAISED HIS NOSE FOR A CRUISE CLIMB FROM 3500 FT. HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A POND. AS HE NEARED TOUCHDOWN, THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER AND RESPONDED TO THE THROTTLE. HE OVERFLEW THE POND AT A LOW ALTITUDE. AS HE NEARED THE END OF THE POND HE RAISED THE NOSE TO CLEAR THE TREES AND THE ENGINE AGAIN LOST POWER. HE HAD A SWAMPY AREA AHEAD. HOWEVER, HE WAS TOO FAST TO MAKE A NORMAL LANDING SO HE PLANTED THE AIRCRAFT DOWN ON THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FUELED WITH AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE. IT HAD NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPROVED STC FOR AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE. THE FLOAT IN THE CARBURETOR WAS THE WRONG TYPE FOR AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SULLIVAN
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1987
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 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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2033
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35595
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5185X
NTSB Number NYC87LA194
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 Champion
Aircraft Model 7GCB
Aircraft Series Identifier 7GCB
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Jun 1 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 765
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID BUCKLEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 552
Aircraft Owner City WEST DOVER
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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
Departure City PORTLAND
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City WEST DOVER
Destination State VT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --