Ellington Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ellington, Connecticut
Friday, February 5, 1982 9:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALLOWED TO WARM UP FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AT END OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE TAKEOFF. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) REPORTED THAT THE BEFORE TAKEOFF RUN-UP WAS MADE BY USING THE CHECKLIST AND ALL ENGINE INSTRUMENTS WERE IN-THE-GREEN. HE REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT REACHED ABOUT 125 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED, THEN STARTED AND TWO TIMES. HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE STUDENT AND TURNED TO THE LEFT TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. BEFORE LANDING, HE SAW A TELEPHONE LINE, AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE LINE AND A POLE BY FLYING UNDER THE WIRE WHILE TURNING RIGHT. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE POLE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EXCESSIVE SOOT ON THE SPARK PLUGS OF THE NO. 1 AND 2 CYLINDERS. AN INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED THAT AN IMPROPER NOZZLE HAD BEEN INSTALLED. DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK, THE ENGINE RAN AT 2400 RPM AT FULL RIGHT WOULD INCREASE TO 2500 RPM WHEN LEANED. ALSO, EXCESSIVE POPPING NOISES WERE NOTED WHEN IT WAS OPERATED AT FULL RICH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/5/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ELLINGTON
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport ELLINGTON
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 963
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N721FL
NTSB Number NYC82FNE03
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7225903
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 4813
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARSHALL BAGG
Aircraft Owner Street Address 80 GRANTWOOD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City AMHERST
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01022
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARSHALL BAGG
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 80 GRANTWOOD DRIVE
Operator City AMHERST
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01022
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City ELLINGTON
Departure State CT
Departure Country
Departure Time 928
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City ELLINGTON
Destination State CT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1
Runway Length 1900
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --