Twin Lakes Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mocksville, North Carolina 27006
Wednesday, June 29, 2005 15:32 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported a loss of engine power while making a left crosswind turn at 400 feet. The pilot elected to make an off airport landing. While maneuvering on the approach to land, the airplane collided with trees and subsequently the ground. Maintenance personnel observed that when the throttle was positioned at idle, the RPM fluctuated between 500 and 1300, and the engine oil pressure was constant at 40 pounds of pressure. The carburetor was disassembled and revealed "small particles of dirt or paint chips" located in the carburetor and gascolator. Some particles appeared large enough to block fuel flow to the engine if injected or in a position to enter the fuel jet nozzle. Post-accident examination of the engine included a field test run of the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel system contamination. A factor was trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1532
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Mocksville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27006
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355432N
Event Location Longitude 0802714W
Event Location Airport TWIN LAKES
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8A7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 818
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 254
Weather Observation Facility ID GSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 195
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
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) 18566
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2005 6:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Greensboro FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38341
NTSB Number ATL05LA117
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 Piper
Aircraft Model J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6949
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 144.57
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Joseph Wilson
Aircraft Owner Street Address 123 Zimmerman Rd
Aircraft Owner City Advance
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27006
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 Advance
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 27006
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 8A7
Departure City Mocksville
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 8A7
Destination City Mocksville
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 2 2005 2:00PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
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 --