# Accident 19980629015249A: Amtr MUSTANGMIDGT, Tracy, CA, June 29, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 29, 1998, 20:00 local time
- Place: Tracy, CA
- Airport: Tracy Municipal Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7299° N, 121.4198° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7299&lon=-121.4198&mi=10
- Aircraft: N76JF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76JF-2017-06-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Frandsen MIDGET MUSTANG M-I (registry code 1690324, https://openairdocs.org/model/frandsen-midget-mustang-m-i) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR MUSTANGMIDGT
- Reported engine: LYC O320A3B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 660 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98FA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA208) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980629015249A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOST POWER. CRASHED. PLASTIC LODGED IN FUEL LINE. (.4)THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS ON CLIMBOUT FOLLOWING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING.  DURING THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING AND LOST POWER.  THE AIRPLANE LEVELED OFF MOMENTARILY AND THEN BEGAN A STEEP LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY.  DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE.  THE ENGINE HAD LOST POWER IN FLIGHT ON SEVERAL PRIOR OCCASIONS.  THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL BOOST PUMP OR AN ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP.  THE FUEL TANK WAS MOUNTED IN THE FUSELAGE, IMMEDIATELY FORWARD OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WITH NO ACCUMULATOR TANK.  THE HEADSPACE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE CARBURETOR WAS REDUCED WHENEVER THE AIRPLANE'S PITCH ATTITUDE INCREASED.  A MINIMUM OF 0.5 POUNDS OF FUEL PRESSURE AT THE CARBURETOR INLET IS REQUIRED FOR OPERATION OF THE ENGINE.  THE MINIMUM FLOW VOLUME REQUIRED FOR ENGINE OPERATION IS NOT SPECIFIED.  THE TANK HAD A SINGLE, UNDER WING VENT LINE.  DIRT AND A PIECE OF PLASTIC WERE FOUND LODGED IN THE 90-DEGREE ELBOW OF THE FUEL TANK VENT LINE AT THE POINT WHERE THE LINE ENTERS THE TANK.  THE DIRT HAD FORMED A BALL AND WAS LOCATED ON THE TANK SIDE OF                          THE PIECE OF PLASTIC. THE FUEL TANK WAS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A VENTED FUEL CAP THAT WAS FOUND IN PLACE; HOWEVER, THE VENT HOLE IN THE CAP HAD BEEN COVERED WITH GRAY SILICON SEALANT.                                             (-23) NO NARRATIVE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98FA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98FA208), Jun 30, 1998: Frandsen Midget Mustang MM-1 (N76JF), Tracy, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: inadequate maintenance/inspection by the owner/pilot that resulted in an obstructed fuel vent system and a subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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