Trenton-Robbinsville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Robbinsville, New Jersey 08691
Monday, April 14, 2003 15:12 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/builder reported that he was operating his homebuilt airplane on its first flight. While performing a go-around, he noticed a partial loss of power. He was unable to restore full power, and elected to land on a golf course ahead of him. During the approach , the airplane struck a tree, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the engine and fuel system by an inspector from the FAA failed to find the cause of the reported power loss.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of power for undertermined reason(s).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1512
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Robbinsville
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08691
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 401252N
Event Location Longitude 0743539W
Event Location Airport Trenton-Robbinsville Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N87
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 290
Airport Elevation 119
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 305
Weather Observation Facility ID TTN
Elevation of weather observation facility 213
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.29
Density Altitude (feet) 162
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) 14760
NTSB Notification Source Philadelphia FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Apr 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2004 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N20569
NTSB Number NYC03LA085
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 McCaa
Aircraft Model Minimax 1500R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1035
Certified Max Gross Weight 640
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Nov 30 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas C. McCaa
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Levittown
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19055
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code N87
Departure City Robbinsville
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code N87
Destination City --
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2003 11:25AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 4275
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --