Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anniston, Alabama 36201
Friday, February 25, 1983 15:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

JUST PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DRAINED BOTH TANKS AFTER REFUELING BY USING THE STRAINER PULL HANDLE IN THE COCKPIT WITH THE SELECTOR POSITIONED TO EACH TANK. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT DRAIN THE INDIVIDUAL TANK SUMPS. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE CLIMBED TO 8000 FT & WAS IN NORMAL CRUISE, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE NOTED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE HAD DROPPED TO NEAR ZERO & HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE THE PRESSURE OR START THE ENGINE. WHILE LANDING IN WINDS GUSTING TO 22 KTS, HE CLEARED POWER LINES, BUT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE. NO DISCREPANCIES OF THE ACFT WERE FOUND EXCEPT WATER IN SOME LOCATIONS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FLT MANUAL NOTED THAT FREEZING TEMPS WERE COMMON ABOVE 8000 FT & IF ENCOUNTERED, CONDENSED WATER IN THE LINES WOULD FREEZE & CAUSE FUEL STARVATION; THEREFORE, SUMPS SHOULD BE DRAINED BEFORE EACH FLT & AFTER EACH REFUELING. IT ALSO WARNS TO ALLOW 5 MIN FOR WATER & SEDIMENT TO SETTLE IN THE TANKS & FUEL SELECTOR VALVE BEFORE TAKING SAMPLES. TEMP AT 8000 FT APRX 28 DEG.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ANNISTON
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36201
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 2
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 708
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20969
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 N43NC
NTSB Number ATL83FA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20F
Aircraft Series Identifier M20F
Aircraft Serial Number 22-147
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 26 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 172
Airframe Hours 1241
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SYNDER SERVICE CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 53
Aircraft Owner City GREENBRIAR
Aircraft Owner State AR
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 Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 8A4
Departure City MARIETTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1601
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code M03
Destination City CONWAY
Destination State AK
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --