Coulter Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bryan, Texas 77802
Friday, May 23, 2003 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial pilot reported a partial loss of engine power during takeoff. He was unable to restore full power, and made an emergency off-airport landing, which resulted in structural damage to the airplane. An FAA inspector and an aviation mechanic examined the engine and noted that the gasket between the air filter and carburetor was missing. A portion of gasket-like material was subsequently discovered in the carburetor's intake venturi. The FAA inspector noted that the material in the venturi would have impeded air flow and resulted in the engine running too rich.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The presence of foreign material in the carburetor intake venturi, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during takeoff, and a subsequent off-airport forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BRYAN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77802
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 304300N
Event Location Longitude 0962000W
Event Location Airport Coulter Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CFD
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 50
Airport Elevation 367
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 192
Weather Observation Facility ID CLL
Elevation of weather observation facility 321
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) 2300
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16943
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 23 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office HOU-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9389X
NTSB Number LAX03LA179
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 182E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18253789
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 2 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 78
Airframe Hours 3830
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pittsburgh Skydiving Center Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5137 Chevy Chase Drive
Aircraft Owner City Finleyville
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15332
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Skydive Aggieland, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3722 Valley Oaks
Operator City Bryan
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 77802
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CFD
Departure City BRYAN
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CFD
Destination City Bryan
Destination State TX
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 25 2004 3:40PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --