Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sussex, New Jersey 07461
Saturday, March 23, 1985 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENG PWR DURING CLIMB SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING WHICH RESULTED. THE PLT REPORTED THE ENG COUGHED AND LOST PWR, HOWEVER, WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS PUMPED, PWR RETURNED. PWR WAS THEN LOST ONCE AGAIN WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS MOVED TO THE FULL OPEN POSITION. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AND ENG REVEALED THE FUEL PRIMER WAS UNLOCKED AND SLIGHTLY PULLED BACK. SEVERAL SPARK PLUGS WERE SOOT COVERED AS WAS THE INSIDE OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. A FUEL SAMPLE TAKEN FROM THE ACFT WAS BROWN IN COLOR AND CONTAMINATED WITH WATER. AFTER REPAIRING SOME DAMAGE INCURRED IN THE ACCIDENT AND REPLACING A WORN START CLUTCH, THE ENG WAS STARTED AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/23/1985
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SUSSEX
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07461
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 3
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 1630
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 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) 887
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 23 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28114
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N99677
NTSB Number NYC85LA089
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 Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.)
Aircraft Model 415-D
Aircraft Series Identifier 415-D
Aircraft Serial Number 2300
Certified Max Gross Weight 1260
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARL LASTELLA
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 556 RD, #3
Aircraft Owner City SUSSEX
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07461
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City SUSSEX
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --