Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hammondsport, New York 14840
Saturday, October 17, 1987 9:37 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PIPER PA-12 EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A CORN FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR MECHANICAL FAILURES. AUTO FUEL WAS BEING USED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AN FAA STUDY PREDICTS THAT VAPOR LOCK IS MOSTAPT TO OCCUR IN A HOT ENGINE, UNDER HIGH FUEL FLOWS, LOW COOLING AIR FLOW, AND WHEN THE REID VAPOR PRESSURE IS HIGHER THAN 7 PSI (AUTO FUEL IN WINTER IS TYPICALLY 15 PSI).

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/17/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 937
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HAMMONDSPORT
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14840
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 10
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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2611
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 17 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37729
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7817H
NTSB Number NYC88LA084
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-713
Certified Max Gross Weight 1625
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 5 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 47
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SETH CARLTON MYERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 18 MECHANIC ST.
Aircraft Owner City PRATTSBURG
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14873
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SETH CARLTON MYERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 18 MECHANIC STREET
Operator City PRATTSBURG
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 14873
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --