What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
According to a witness the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 200-300 feet where the engine began to sputter. Another witness stated the airplane made a 180 degree turn back towards the runway before it spun into the ground. According to another pilot, he flew the airplane for 35-40 minutes the day before, and the accident pilot flew 35 minutes on the day of the accident. The other pilot stated the front fuel tank held 14 1/2 gallons, and the fuel consumption was 8-9 gallons per hour. The FAA inspector stated that thte fuel selector was set to the front fuel tank setting. The fuel lines were checked, and no fuel was found in the line from the front fuel tank to the engine. There was fuel in the line from the rear fuel tank to the engine. The airplane was purchased by the pilot on December 4,1997, and a witness stated he did not believe the pilot was comfortable in the airplane. (-23) during climb after takeoff, at approximately 300 ft, aircraft lost power. Witnesses state a puff of blue smoke was seen from aircraft prior to stall and spin. Fuel tank and carburetor lost all fuel due to impact. Aircra ft had regained power at impact. Ignition wiring appears to be chappping at many various points in engine. Aircraft located at West Palm Beach Florida, Palm Beach county sheriff's office/hangar.
As the FAA filed it
ACCORDING TO A WITNESS THE AIRPLANE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200-300 FEET WHERE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THE AIRPLANE MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARDS THE RUNWAY BEFORE IT SPUN INTO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER PILOT, HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE FOR 35-40 MINUTES THE DAY BEFORE, AND THE ACCIDENT PILOT FLEW 35 MINUTES ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER PILOT STATED THE FRONT FUEL TANK HELD 14 1/2 GALLONS, AND THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS 8-9 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED THAT THTE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET TO THE FRONT FUEL TANK SETTING. THE FUEL LINES WERE CHECKED, AND NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LINE FROM THE FRONT FUEL TANK TO THE ENGINE. THERE WAS FUEL IN THE LINE FROM THE REAR FUEL TANK TO THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS PURCHASED BY THE PILOT ON DECEMBER 4,1997, AND A WITNESS STATED HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE PILOT WAS COMFORTABLE IN THE AIRPLANE. (-23) DURING CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FT, AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. WITNESSES STATE A PUFF OF BLUE SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO STALL AND SPIN. FUEL TANK AND CARBURETOR LOST ALL FUEL DUE TO IMPACT. AIRCRA FT HAD REGAINED POWER AT IMPACT. IGNITION WIRING APPEARS TO BE CHAPPPING AT MANY VARIOUS POINTS IN ENGINE. AIRCRAFT LOCATED AT WEST PALM BEACH FLORIDA, PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE/HANGAR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.