Sylvania Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sturdevant, Wisconsin 53177
Tuesady, July 29, 1986 20:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THIS AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN THE WING STRUCK THE SHOULDER OF A DITCH DURING THE LANDING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED (NOT IN ACCORDANCE TO THE MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS). ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE FUEL PUMP AS INSTALLED ON THIS HOMEBUILT WOULD QUIT OPERATING BECAUSE THE PUMP WAS MOUNTED BELOW THE IMPULSE NIPPLE OF THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE PRIMER SYSTEM FOR THIS ENGINE ALLOWED AIR TO LEAK INTO A FUEL LINE SUPPLYING FUEL TO THE ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/1986
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City STURDEVANT
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53177
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SYLVANIA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C89
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 780
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1946 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID MKE
Elevation of weather observation facility 723
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2253
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 29 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32871
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54314
NTSB Number CHI86FEP07
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 WHEELER
Aircraft Model GOLD WING
Aircraft Series Identifier GOLD WING
Aircraft Serial Number 21003
Certified Max Gross Weight 480
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Oct 29 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 6
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HUGH E. WHEELER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3400 SOUTHWOOD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City RACINE
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HUGH E. WHEELER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3400 SOUTHWOOD DR.
Operator City RACINE
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53406
Operator Code 06
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 C89
Departure City STURTEVANT
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8L
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --