Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Quarryville, Pennsylvania 17566
Wednesday, July 14, 2004 12:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While flying in instrument meteorological conditions, the airplane experienced a total electrical failure. The pilot was able to descend to 700 feet agl, and locate a road. During a precautionary landing to the road, the nose gear struck mud and collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that 11 of the 12 battery cells were dry. Further investigation revealed that maintenance had been performed on the airplane about 2 months prior to the accident. The maintenance work included replacing the old battery with a serviceable battery.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Improper maintenance performed on the airplane, which resulted in a total electrical failure during cruise flight in IMC, and a subsequent precautionary landing. A factor in the accident was the low ceiling.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Quarryville
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17566
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395412N
Event Location Longitude 0760930W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID LNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 403
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.66
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17480
NTSB Notification Source Harrisburg FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2005 6:20AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Harrisburg, PA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6043N
NTSB Number NYC04LA167
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 210M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21062911
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 10 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 226
Airframe Hours 3376
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Centurion Aviation Llc
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Fairfax
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22033
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Waldo D. Freeman
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Falls Church
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 22041
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 LEW
Departure City Lewiston
Departure State ME
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HEF
Destination City Manassas
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
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 --