- Date
- May 9, 1993, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Frederick, MD
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N28681de Havilland DH-82A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 25, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930509012699A
- Case key
- 11938
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Inadequate preflight by the pilot and fuel contamination, which resulted in loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that both the preflight and run up inspections were accomplished successfully. During the initial climb at about 900 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. He reversed direction to return to the airport, but decided to land in a field. During the forced landing the airplane struck a tree and the airplane fell to the ground. Examination of the fuel system by the FAA revealed contaminants consisting of dirt and water in both the fuel tank and gascolator. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction and the accident could have been prevented if the crosswind turn was made sooner, and the fuel tanks were completely drained periodically.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N28681
- Reported as
- de Havilland DH-82A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- PG 621-81
- Airframe hours
- 1,427
- Engine
- de Havilland GYPSY MAJOR I, 122 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bernard Paiewonsky
- Registered owner
- Bernard Paiewonsky
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 19, 1992 · 2 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 2,918 total · 40 in this make and model · 2,918 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N28681 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.