Aqualand/Clifton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newburg, Maryland 20664
Wednesday, November 23, 1983 10:34 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF AT APRX 200 FT AGL, THE ENG BEGAN TO SPUTTER & RUN ROUGH. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A 180 DEG TURN IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH A CLEAR AREA. HOWEVER, THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE & IMPACTED IN A WOODED AREA. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN APRX 4 HRS SINCE IT WAS REFUELED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY WHILE THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED AN ESTIMATED 3 TO 4 GAL. A SMALL AMOUNT OF CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL. A CHECK OF THE FUEL LINE FILTER INDICATED A PROLONGED BUILD UP OF FINE SILICONE SILT, RUST PARTICLES & DISOLVED MICE DROPPINGS. AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENG REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT/OWNER HAD USED A STICK, NOTCHED IN INCREMENTS, TO DETERMINE THE FUEL LEVEL BEFORE TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, THE ACCURACY OF HIS METHOD WAS NOT DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/23/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1034
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NEWBURG
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20664
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AQUALAND/CLIFTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2W8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 350
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1054 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID DCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 15
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 17000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 14000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 20
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) 1621
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21956
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6385G
NTSB Number ATL84FIA01
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150K
Aircraft Series Identifier 150K
Aircraft Serial Number 150711885
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 May 8 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 124
Airframe Hours 3503
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN F & CHERYL OFFENBACHER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 304 CECIL ST. BOX 571
Aircraft Owner City LAPLATA
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20646
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
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1029
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 Maneuvering
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 3165
Runway Width 36
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --