- Date
- August 23, 1994, 20:25 local (Aug 24, 1994, 00:25 UTC)
- Place
- Phoenixville, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGRans S-14 Airaile
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 23, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 8967
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
the pilot's failure to perform a preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.
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 student pilot departed a private airstrip heading west. During the climb he made a 90 degree turn northbound. The engine stopped suddenly, and the airplane continued to turn right to the south. The airplane crossed over the runway, and then made a left 180 to 270 degree turn. The airplane impacted trees south of the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the aft carburetor fuel bowl contained water. An engine test run was performed under the supervision of the FAA. The FAA stated that the engine ran smoothly. A witness stated that he observed the pilot prior to takeoff, and stated 'no preflight inspection done.' The student pilot's total flight time was unable to be determined.
Factual narrative
On August 23, 1994, about 2025 eastern daylight time, a Rans S-14 Airaile, an unregistered, homebuilt airplane, was destroyed, during a forced landing at a private airport in Pheonixville, Pennsylvania. The student pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
A witness stated,
[The] pilot started aircraft by hand propping. No preflight inspection [was] done. [The] pilot taxied out of parking area to east end of [the] runway and commenced [the] takeoff run to the west. Aircraft climbed sharply after take off and then made [a] 90 degree right turn and continued climbing to approximately 300-400 feet of altitude. Engine stoppage occurred at a 180 degree turn to the right, followed by noticeable porposing of [the] aircraft as it continued across [the] runway, followed by entrance into 180-270 degree turn to [the] left. Lost sight of [the] aircraft [and] heard crash sounds....
The airplane came to rest south of the runway, where it impacted trees.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, initial examination indicated the presence of water in the aft carburetor bowl. Additionally, a fuel vent shut off valve was found in the closed position.
An engine test run was performed by Kolb Aircraft Inc., of Pheonixville, Pennsylvania, under the supervision of the FAA. The engine test run results stated that the engine ran smoothly.
The student pilot's total flight time was unable to be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Rans S-14 Airaile (S-14 AIRAI)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0892036
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sjostrom, Richard Anders
- Destination
- N10 · Collegeville, PA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Observed at
- IPT, 93 nm away