Charles Chase Jr. Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426
Saturday, February 18, 2006 10:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

As the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet above ground level after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine, and then made a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and then the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he removed the gascolator fuel bowl after the accident, and observed ice in the bottom. He also reported that he performed a complete preflight inspection prior to takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect ice in the fuel system, resulting in a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb, and an in-flight collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/18/2006
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Dover-Foxcroft
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04426
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451038N
Event Location Longitude 0691440W
Event Location Airport Charles Chase Jr. Memorial
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 44B
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 520
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID BGR
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 29
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21499
NTSB Notification Source NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Feb 21 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2007 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7694E
NTSB Number NYC06LA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Champion
Aircraft Model 7FC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7FC-289
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 May 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5460
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Klaus Thalinger
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Waterville
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04901
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Stephen Larrabee
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Dover-Foxcroft
Operator State ME
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 04426
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 44B
Departure City Dover-Foxcroft
Departure State ME
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Ornville
Destination State ME
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 7 2007 2:08PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --