Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phillips, Maine 04966
Thursday, October 4, 2001 10:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Approximately 30 minutes after departure, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a field, and while on final approach, the engine regained full power. The pilot initiated a go-around and the engine lost power a second time. The airplane then entered a "low altitude power off stall" and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed the left fuel vent line was contaminated with mud. Additionally, examination of the fuel drained from the airplane revealed a mixture of auto gas, 100LL aviation fuel, and a fuel additive.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of engine power due to a blockage of the left fuel tank vent line with mud, and the subsequent inadvertent stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/2001
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Phillips
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04966
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 445108N
Event Location Longitude 0701700W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 955 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID WVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 333
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) 533
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12339
NTSB Notification Source FAA NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 4 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2002 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7591X
NTSB Number IAD02LA001
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 172B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17248091
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 17 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3300
Airframe Hours 3347
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name George Call
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Troy
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04987
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 2B7
Departure City Pittsfield
Departure State ME
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MVL
Destination City Morrisville
Destination State VT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 9 2002 4:02PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
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 --