Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Passaic, New Jersey 07055
Thursday, June 10, 2004 8:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane, having recently undergone "numerous" repairs following 18 months of storage, was being positioned for a pre-purchase inspection. About halfway between the initial departure airport and final destination airport, the engine began to run roughly, so the pilot elected to land and check it on the ground. While on the ground, the pilot did not find any abnormalities, and he departed for again for his intended destination. About 45 minutes later, the engine suddenly stopped, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a golf course. After touchdown, when the pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid a golfer, the airplane struck a tree and came to a stop in a sand trap. At the scene, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector partially removed the engine cowl to disconnect the battery. All exterior damage was noted, and fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tanks. The wings were subsequently removed to facilitate airplane transport to a storage facility. The engine was run at that facility, while still attached to the airframe, "at idle and at power." However, the fuel was utilized from a different source, and plumbed directly into the carburetor.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the evasive maneuver on the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/10/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Passaic
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07055
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405300N
Event Location Longitude 0741000W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 173
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16864
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Ops Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 10 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
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 Teterboro

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N53565
NTSB Number IAD04LA024
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 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172-74780
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 May 12 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 670
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Tsunami Aircraft Sales
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Westerly
Aircraft Owner State RI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02891
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Mark A. Simmons
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Pawcatuck
Operator State CT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 06379
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BDR
Departure City Bridgeport
Departure State CT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CDW
Destination City Caldwell
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2004 12:53PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --