Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lewes, Delaware 19958
Tuesady, August 17, 1982 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ABOUT 15 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A MANEUVER FROM LOW ALTITUDE OVER A BEACH AREA. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE PLANE PULLED UP, ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB AND THEN BANKED OR ROLLED LEFT AND ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. BEFORE RECOVERING, IT STRUCK THE SAND AT THE WATERS EDGE, BOUNCED AND THEN CAME TO REST IN SHALLOW WATER. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL, EXCEPT WHEN THE PLANE DESCENDED AND TURNED, ONE WITNESS NOTED THAT THE SOUND LEVEL ROSE IN PITCH. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO INDICATION OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PILOT WEIGHED 270 LBS AND OCCUPIED THE FRONT SEAT WHILE THE 180 LB PASSENGER WAS IN THE AFT SEAT. REPORTEDLY, THE PLANE HAD 35 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD BEFORE TAKEOFF, BUT WAS WITHIN ITS WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITS. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED 25 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION FOR BANNER TOWING AND HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE OPERATORS WAIVER FOR AUTHORIZATION TO TOW.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LEWES
Event State DELAWARE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19958
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1557
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 218
Weather Observation Facility ID SBY
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 86
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2948
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 N1886G
NTSB Number NYC82FA203
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CHAMPION
Aircraft Model 7ECA
Aircraft Series Identifier 7ECA
Aircraft Serial Number 428
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 1
Airframe Hours 1343
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARRISON AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address AIRPORT ROAD, BOX 326
Aircraft Owner City REHOBOTH BEACH
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GARRISON AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address AIRPORT ROAD, BOX 326
Operator City REHOBOTH BEACH
Operator State DE
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City REHOBOTH BEACH
Departure State DE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City REHOBOTH BEACH
Destination State DE
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --