Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairmount, Georgia 30139
Saturday, August 22, 2009 17:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During cruise flight the student pilot observed a loss of engine power. He applied carburetor heat for about 30 seconds with no improvement in engine performance. When the engine stopped running, he performed a forced landing in a cow pasture. During the landing, the airplane struck a tree, resulting in structural damage to the left wing spar. During examination of the wreckage the fuel strainer was opened and approximately 2 tablespoons of a moist, powdery substance were found inside, and some had adhered to the internal fuel screen. The origin of the substance was not determined, however the airplane was stored outside and had not been flown for several months following the last annual inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a contaminated fuel strainer.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Fairmount
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30139
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 342456N
Event Location Longitude 0844334W
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 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 255
Weather Observation Facility ID RMG
Elevation of weather observation facility 644
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9500
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
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) 26417
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2009 3:31PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N61022
NTSB Number ERA09LA476
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 150J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15070740
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Sep 26 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 7734
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name GORE CLEVELAND
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9291 CHARLESTON HWY
Aircraft Owner City ROUND O
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29474-3602
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name GORE CLEVELAND
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 9291 CHARLESTON HWY
Operator City ROUND O
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 29474-3602
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 47A
Departure City Canton
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1740
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RMG
Destination City Rome
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2009 3:31PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --