Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ulster, New York 12401
Sunday, January 30, 2005 9:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane's fuel tanks contained a mixture of 100 low lead aviation gasoline and automotive gasoline. During the preflight examination of the ski-equipped airplane, the pilot preheated the engine for about 30 minutes, and drained fuel samples from the fuel system. The samples were all absent of water or debris. The engine was started, and allowed to idle for about 15 minutes, and following taxi, a complete run-up check was performed. During the initial climb, at an altitude about 50 feet AGL, the engine began to lose power and run roughly. The pilot elected to turn the airplane toward a field and an up-sloping hill. He flew the airplane across an approximately 420-foot long field, and touched down below the top of it. The airplane then became airborne again after crossing the crest of the hill. The airplane descended "at near stall speed," and as the pilot rolled the airplane into a steep bank to avoid trees, the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane pivoted to the left, and impacted a large fence. According to the passenger, the airplane's engine was running for the duration of the flight, and upon inspection after the accident, the throttle was found in the full open position. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. Review of a carburetor ice probability chart revealed that with a temperature of 27 degrees Fahrenheit, and a dewpoint of 19 degrees Fahrenheit, the conditions were conducive for light carburetor icing at cruise or glide power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing to the accident was conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/30/2005
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 940
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Ulster
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12401
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415800N
Event Location Longitude 0740100W
Event Location Airport Private 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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID POU
Elevation of weather observation facility 165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17967
NTSB Notification Source ALB FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jan 31 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Albany FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3069E
NTSB Number IAD05LA035
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 Aeronca
Aircraft Model S7CCM
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-6658
Certified Max Gross Weight 1300
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 9 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours 12700
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jim R. Morrow
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Kingston
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Ulster
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 940
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 May 9 2005 3:11PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --