Trenton Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Trenton, Missouri 64683
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted water while maneuvering. The pilot stated that he was "positioning [the airplane] on downwind for a low approach to runway 18" while following another airplane that was conducting a low approach. The pilot reported that while he was attempting to "level off" the "elevator froze," preventing him from leveling off. One witness stated that she saw the airplane attempt to complete a loop. Another witness, who was a certified flight instructor, stated that he saw the airplane in a near vertical descent prior to flying below tree top level. The airplane subsequently impacted water east of the airport. An inspection after the accident revealed no mechanical anomalies which would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above the water while maneuvering. A factor in the accident was the low altitude maneuver attempted by the pilot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/2007
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Trenton
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64683
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400502N
Event Location Longitude 0933543W
Event Location Airport Trenton Muni
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TRX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 757
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSTJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 826
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KSTJ 041553Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/22 A3000 RMK AO2
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) 22116
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 30 2007 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1178J
NTSB Number CHI07CA194
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 Boeing
Aircraft Model N2S-3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 757685
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Jul 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4009
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Edward I. Duckworth
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1203 Bell Circle
Aircraft Owner City Liberty
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 64068
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 No
Departure Airport Code TRX
Departure City Trenton
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 10 2007 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
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 --