19990325031949A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 404 · Homestead, FL · March 25, 1999

Date: March 25, 1999 · 08:00 local
Place: Homestead, FL
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N82435
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA99LA113
Reported as: Cessna 404
Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX503
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 18,300 total20 in this make and model

N82435Registration cancelled Oct 8, 2003 · Dryer David B FISHER 404S/N DBD 404-01 · Built 1998 Airframe modelDryer David B FISHER 404 Engine modelBombardier ROTAX (ALL)Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The pilot stated he was at 1,000 feet when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. He started a forced landing to a dirt road in a tomato field. The airplane collided with a tree short of his intended forced landing area and crashed. Examination of the crash site revealed a suitable forced landing area left of the pilots flight path. Examination of the engine assembly revealed an inoperative generator coil. (-23) at cruise, flt. @ 1,000 ft. engine failed, pilot tried re-start, not successful. Unable to clear power lines. Landed in trees. Pilot removed wreckage before we arrived. 1. Checked fuel level - ok. 2. Checked fuel filter - clean. 3. Pulled spark plugs, rotated engine - no spark.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE PILOT STATED HE WAS AT 1,000 FEET WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE STARTED A FORCED LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD IN A TOMATO FIELD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE SHORT OF HIS INTENDED FORCED LANDING AREA AND CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING AREA LEFT OF THE PILOTS FLIGHT PATH. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY REVEALED AN INOPERATIVE GENERATOR COIL. (-23) AT CRUISE, FLT. @ 1,000 FT. ENGINE FAILED, PILOT TRIED RE-START, NOT SUCCESSFUL. UNABLE TO CLEAR POWER LINES. LANDED IN TREES. PILOT REMOVED WRECKAGE BEFORE WE ARRIVED. 1. CHECKED FUEL LEVEL - OK. 2. CHECKED FUEL FILTER - CLEAN. 3. PULLED SPARK PLUGS, ROTATED ENGINE - NO SPARK.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA99LA113Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHomestead, FLThe pilots improper in-flight planning/decision of an available forced landing area. This resulted in a subsequent in-flight collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was a total loss of engine power due to an inoperative generator coil.Mar 25, 1999 · Substantial damage