Suwannee County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Live Oak, Florida 32060
Monday, September 11, 2006 16:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor said the student pilot preflighted the airplane and taxied it to the fuel pump, where the instructor topped it off with 21.4 gallons of fuel. The student pilot then taxied to runway 07, did an engine runup, and took off. He made at "at least" one touch-and-go landing. When the instructor noticed the airplane again, "the nose of the airplane dip[ped] twice over the last third of the runway before [the student] turned the plane to the left in an attempt to return to the runway." Another witness said he heard the engine "spit and sputter." Power was restored for approximately 2 to 3 seconds, then the engine "spit and sputtered 3 to 4 times again, then there was no sound at all." The airplane banked to the left, lost [altitude], then [nosed into the ground]." The student pilot later confirmed that the engine had lost power shortly after he took off. The fuel selector was on the left tank, and fuel was leaking from the compromised fuel tanks. The engine was later disassembled and examined. Internal gear and valve train continuity was confirmed. The electrical, fuel, lubrication and exhaust systems were also disassembled and examined. No anomalies were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power for reasons undetermined, and an inadvertent stall while maneuvering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/2006
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Live Oak
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32060
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301801N
Event Location Longitude 0830148W
Event Location Airport Suwannee County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 24J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 104
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20872
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Southern Region
NTSB Notification Date Sep 11 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2007 9:40AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Tampa, Florida

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3818M
NTSB Number DEN06LA126
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 77
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number WA-222
Certified Max Gross Weight 1675
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 Jun 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Fessler Aviation, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13342 80th Terr.
Aircraft Owner City Live Oak
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32060
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 24J
Departure City Live Oak
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 24J
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 7 2006 12:14PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 07
Runway Length 4037
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --