Minuteman Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stow, Massachusetts 01775
Friday, September 6, 2002 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he set the vernier-type throttle to "a little more than 1/4-inch open," and started the airplane. He attempted to reduce power by twisting the throttle counter-clockwise, but was unable to retard the throttle to the idle position. The brakes could no longer hold the airplane, which moved forward, turned to the left, went through a fence and came to rest as it impacted a parked car. The pilot stated that he forgot about the center lock button on the throttle and did not notice that it was engaged during the engine start sequence.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper positioning of the throttle during engine start, which resulted in his inability to maintain control of the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Stow
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01775
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422737N
Event Location Longitude 0713104W
Event Location Airport Minuteman airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6B6
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 268
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID BED
Elevation of weather observation facility 133
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
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) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) 1143
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13825
NTSB Notification Source New England Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 6 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2003 8:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Beford FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7223R
NTSB Number IAD02LA092
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 Goff
Aircraft Model Glassair
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2052
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 100
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Larry Goff
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Andover
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 6B6
Departure City Stow
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 6B6
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 5 2003 6:13PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 03
Runway Length 2770
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --