Greenwood Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Milford, New Jersey 07480
Sunday, February 27, 2005 13:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The airplane lost altitude and touched down about 20 feet from the end of the runway pavement, became airborne again, sank below the level of the runway and out of view. After striking several trees and a power line, the airplane came to rest next to a road 362 feet northeast of the departure end of the runway. Examination of the runway revealed that it had a 340 foot displaced threshold that had been marked as a taxiway due to encroachment in the airport safety zone. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions; however, water was obtained from the fuel strainer, and a large piece of ice with visible contaminants suspended in it was found attached to the filter assembly. The airplane was stored out of doors and had not flown for almost 6 months. The owners manual stated that "if the aircraft is to be stored temporarily, or indefinitely, refer to the service manual for proper storage procedures." The service manual stated in the returning aircraft to service section to "Check fuel strainer. Remove and clean filter screen."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel ice, during the initial climb after takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/27/2005
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City West Milford
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07480
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 410757N
Event Location Longitude 0742025W
Event Location Airport Greenwood Lake Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4N1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.4
Degrees magnetic from airport 60
Airport Elevation 791
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FWN
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
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) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.26
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19519
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Feb 27 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1405
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2006 11:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Teterboro, NJ.

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6685M
NTSB Number IAD05FA040
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18263799
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 4237
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lynn T. Fletcher
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Franklin Lakes
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07481
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 4N1
Departure City West Milford
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 4N1
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 Feb 3 2006 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 3470
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --