Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newark, California 94560
Saturday, February 26, 2011 12:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane. Prior to the flight, he completed a preflight inspection, which included filling the fuel tanks and then draining the fuel sump points and looking for water. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. A postaccident engine examination found water in the carburetor bowl. The estimated quantity of water was about 3/4 ounce. Evidence of water was also found in the gascolator. At the conclusion of the engine examination, no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure was found that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection to identify and remove the water.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/26/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Newark
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94560
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 372959N
Event Location Longitude 1220606W
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 1255 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 195
Weather Observation Facility ID PAO
Elevation of weather observation facility 7
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
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) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KPAO 262055Z COR 35008KT 30SM BKN040 09/M01
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30363
NTSB Notification Source FAA WP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 1 2012 2:32PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5351C
NTSB Number WPR11LA150
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 140A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15482
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 Feb 2 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 2050
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Morris Kenneth E
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Poplar Grove
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61065
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Morris Kenneth E
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Poplar Grove
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 61065
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 PAO
Departure City Palo Alto
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1240
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Victorville
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 1 2012 2:32PM
User who most recently changed record coos
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 --