Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426
Saturday, July 21, 2007 17:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight departed with 6 gallons of fuel on board, flew locally, then returned to the departure airport where the pilot performed 2 full-stop taxi back landings. The flight departed from runway 27, remained in the traffic pattern, and while on the downwind leg, the pilot reduced power to 1,700-1,800 rpm. The pilot extended the downwind leg, turned base and final, then the engine experienced a loss of power due to fuel starvation. The pilot then inadvertently stalled the airplane which collided with trees during the uncontrolled descent. Postaccident examination of the engine and flight controls by an FAA inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction; a minimum quantity of fuel was noted but the amount was not quantified.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed following total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, resulting in a stall/mush, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Dover-Foxcroft
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04426
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 451068N
Event Location Longitude 0691415W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KBGR
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KBGR 211353Z 02009KT 10SM BKN021 BKN041 20/15 A299
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) 22666
NTSB Notification Source FAA NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 21 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2007 6:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, ME

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9778N
NTSB Number MIA07LA124
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 Dennis M. Durgin
Aircraft Model Junior Ace
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number DMD100
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 220
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Frederick N. Wilson
Aircraft Owner Street Address 221 Park St.
Aircraft Owner City Dover-Foxcroft
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04426
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) 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 1615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 44B
Destination City Dover-Foxcroft
Destination State ME
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 19 2007 12:56PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
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 --