Marshfield Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marshfield, Massachusetts 02050
Friday, November 15, 2013 15:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the airplane departed with adequate fuel onboard (about 40 gallons) but that, about 400 feet above ground level, the engine lost partial power. Specifically, the rpm dropped to 1,500, and the engine began to “backfire.” The pilot turned the airplane to avoid some houses and performed a forced landing into trees. After the impact, a fire ensued and consumed most of the wreckage. Subsequent examination of the engine and propeller governor did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Several engine accessories, including the magnetos and carburetor, could not be tested due to heat and impact damage. Additionally, no fuel samples could be tested because all of the fuel was consumed in the fire. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined in postaccident examinations because fire damage precluded testing of the fuel and several engine accessories.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/15/2013
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Marshfield
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02050
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420554N
Event Location Longitude 0704020W
Event Location Airport Marshfield Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GHG
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 240
Airport Elevation 9
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID GHG
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32917
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2014 1:44PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N76RD
NTSB Number ERA14LA043
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MAULE
Aircraft Model M-5-180C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 8034C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
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 Oct 23 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2834
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name OLSON DOUGLAS W
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City YARMOUTH PORT
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 026752326
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name OLSON DOUGLAS W
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City YARMOUTH PORT
Operator State MA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 026752326
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 GHG
Departure City Marshfield
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5B6
Destination City Falmouth
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2014 1:44PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 2999
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --