Blairstown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sussex, New Jersey 07461
Sunday, July 22, 2007 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At 4,000 feet above ground level, the engine began to sputter, and power decreased to 500 rpm. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in an open field, but the airplane collided with trees. Inspection of the carburetor revealed the carburetor float was stuck in the down position and the needle valve was in the full open position. A review of the logbooks revealed that on June 12, 2007 an overhauled carburetor was installed on the engine, and the idle speed and mixture settings were set. The float assembly was disassembled in order to free the needle valve. The carburetor was reassembled, and it appeared to function normally. The engine was test run and no anomalies were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sussex
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07461
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 411200N
Event Location Longitude 0743713W
Event Location Airport BLAIRSTOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1N7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 10
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 372
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 51
Weather Observation Facility ID KFWN
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.22
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23842
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 22 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allentown FSDO-05

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N63483
NTSB Number ATL07LA106
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17275438
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 102
Airframe Hours 5723
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GPA Aviation Club Incorporated
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Wayne
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07470
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James R Darrah
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Wayne
Operator State NJ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 07470
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 No
Departure Airport Code 1N7
Departure City BLAIRSTOWN
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FWN
Destination City Sussex
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 25 2008 9:07PM
User who most recently changed record grer
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 --