Dutchess County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
Saturday, January 1, 2005 17:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After takeoff, the pilot completed one traffic pattern, performed a touch-and-go landing, and was on climb-out when the engine stopped producing power about 200 feet above ground level. As the pilot maneuvered it back towards the airport, the airplane struck a tree and a fence on the airport perimeter. Post-crash examination revealed that the gascolator drain valve would not actuate, and would not drain fuel. The bowl was removed, and it contained water, rust, and debris, with a thin film of fuel on top. The carburetor was drained, and the mixture collected was about 50 percent fuel, and 50 percent water. The contents of the left fuel tank could not be examined due to impact damage and the disposition of the wreckage. Fuel drained from the right tank contained water. After the airplane was recovered, a can of aviation gasoline was plumbed into the airplane's fuel system. The engine started immediately, and ran continuously without interruption.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/1/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Poughkeepsie
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12601
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413735N
Event Location Longitude 0735302W
Event Location Airport DUTCHESS COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID POU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 60
Airport Elevation 165
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID POU
Elevation of weather observation facility 165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.47
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KPOU 012253Z 36008KT 10SM CLR 04/M03 A3047 R
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) 17577
NTSB Notification Source TEB FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jan 3 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2005 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Teterboro, New Jersey

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7180Q
NTSB Number IAD05LA029
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 172L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17260480
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 Oct 10 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2083.5
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BROWN AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16 CAPTAIN LAWRENCE DR
Aircraft Owner City SOUTH SALEM
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10590
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 POU
Departure City POUGHKEEPSIE
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
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 6
Runway Length 5001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --