Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Block Island State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Block Island, Rhode Island 02807
Saturday, July 5, 2003 11:00 EDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The airplane was in the traffic pattern to land on runway 28, a 2,501-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that when he turned onto the final approach, the engine began "coughing and sputtering." He then "stretched" the landing to make the runway. The airplane struck the runway hard, bounced, and the engine then gained full power. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and struck three parked airplanes, which were located about 1,200 feet from the approach end of the runway, and 500 feet to the right of it. A passenger seated in the right front seat stated that the airplane was close to the runway, less than "100 feet above the ground," when he heard the engine "cough or sputter." He observed the pilot pull the throttle back and the airplane struck the runway "hard." The pilot pushed the throttle in, and the engine seemed to "rev up." The airplane then departed the right side of the runway. Another passenger stated that it seemed like the engine became quieter just before landing, "almost simultaneously," with the airplane contacting the runway. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions. Two weather observations taken at the airport around the time of the accident, reported that the winds were from 240 degrees at 15 knots, and from 250 degrees at 15 knots, with 17 knot gusts.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, after a loss of engine power as reported by the pilot. Factors in this accident were the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing, and the crosswind condition.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 7/5/2003 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1100 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time |
| Event City | Block Island |
| Event State | RHODE ISLAND |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 02807 |
| Event Date Year | 2003 |
| Event Date Month | 7 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 411005N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0713440W |
| Event Location Airport | BLOCK ISLAND STATE |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | BID |
| 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 | 109 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1055 Eastern Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | BID |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 109 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| 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) | 4 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 24 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 19 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 240 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 15 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.83 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| 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 | 4 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 4 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 16158 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA NEROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jul 5 2003 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1700 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Sep 1 2004 7:08AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Lexington |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N1966L |
| NTSB Number | NYC03LA150 |
| 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 | Grumman American |
| Aircraft Model | AA5B |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 1220 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2400 |
| 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 | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jun 19 2003 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 20 |
| Airframe Hours | 2543 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Tiger 1966L Corp. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | Lewes |
| Aircraft Owner State | DE |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 19958 |
| 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) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | FOK |
| Departure City | W. Hampton Bch. |
| Departure State | NY |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1020 |
| Departure Time Zone | EDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | BID |
| Destination City | Block Island |
| Destination State | RI |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Landing |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | May 5 2004 11:00AM |
| User who most recently changed record | PEAR |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 28 |
| Runway Length | 2501 |
| Runway Width | 100 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |