Weiss Farm Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Allamuchy, New Jersey 07820
Saturday, June 16, 2001 11:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he performed a preflight inspection, engine start, run-up, and magneto check with no anomalies noted. He said he taxied the airplane to the approach end of the 2,300-foot grass strip for a departure to the east. The field elevation was 550 feet, and the density altitude was 1,800 feet. According to the pilot, the airplane performed as expected through the ground roll and initial climb, but that the airplane appeared to lose power and mushed into the trees at the departure end of the runway. Interpolation of performance charts revealed that the airplane was capable of a departure from a grass strip that length, and under those atmospheric conditions, at its maximum allowable gross weight. Post-crash examination of the engine revealed the exhaust valve in the #1 cylinder was stuck in the open position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power over unsuitable terrain due to an exhaust valve stuck in the open position.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Allamuchy
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07820
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405515N
Event Location Longitude 0745145W
Event Location Airport Weiss Farm
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JY24
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 550
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID MMU
Elevation of weather observation facility 187
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) 1527
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13364
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1212
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allentown, PA 18109

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4797
NTSB Number IAD01LA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name de Havilland
Aircraft Model DH-82 Tiger Moth
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number EM731
Certified Max Gross Weight 1825
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 4104
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William Weiss
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Paramus
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07652
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 JY24
Departure City Allamuchy
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1129
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NY94
Destination City Rhinebeck
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 27 2002 10:55AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 055
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --