Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401
Thursday, June 28, 2001 15:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While attempting a touch-and-go landing in an aircraft that had not been flown for over 13 years, the pilot allowed the aircraft to land hard and balloon back into the air. During the following climb-out, the aircraft's engine began to lose power. The pilot then tried to execute a teardrop return to the airstrip, but realized he would not be able to reach it. He therefore attempted to put the aircraft down in a nearby grain field, but the aircraft stall/mushed into the terrain when the pilot allowed the airspeed to get too low while trying to stretch the glide. The investigation determined that solid contaminants that had accumulated in the fuel system over the thirteen year period of inactivity were dislodged by the hard landing, and subsequently restricted the fuel flow to the engine. Although the pilot had taken a sample of fuel from the gasculator, he did not visually inspect the fuel tanks, carburetor bowl, or the interior of the gasculator.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above stall velocity (Vs) during his attempt to stretch a reduced power forced landing glide. Factors include fuel starvation, a partial loss of power due to fuel contamination, and the pilots inadequate preflight of an aircraft that had not been flown for over 13 years.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/2001
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Idaho Falls
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83401
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 10525
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 19 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Salt Lake City

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N47075
NTSB Number SEA01LA123
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 Breiter
Aircraft Model Aerosport Quail
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number EB-1
Certified Max Gross Weight 800
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 150
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Edward C. Breiter
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 9, Box 66
Aircraft Owner City Idaho Falls
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83401
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 No
Departure Airport Code ID87
Departure City Idaho Falls
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1455
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 27 2001 5:20PM
User who most recently changed record RANS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --