- Date
- January 28, 1990, 14:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- El Paso, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4542EAeronca 7DC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900128001159A
- Case key
- 23007
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
Power loss due to failure of the carburetor assembly and the pilot's failure to correct known deficiencies. Factors were contaminated fuel, partially blocked fuel screen, fouled spark plugs, the rough terrain, and the lack of shoulder harnesses.
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 engine lost power shortly after liftoff and the pilot made a forced landing in a gravel pit, intentionally stalling the airplane to obtain the lowest possible landing speed. The airplane had a STC for and was being operated on automotive gasoline. Residual fuel and debris were noted in the main fuel tank. The filter screen was estimated to be 20% blocked by san and debris. Some water was found in the fuel. The carburetor needle valve was found to be binding. It had a flat spot on one side, allowing fuel to flood the bowl. The #1 spark plug was inoperative. The #3 plug was oil soaked. All plugs and the exhaust pipe had carbon deposits. Two days before the accident, an airport worker started the engine and it ran for a short period of time before it stopped. No reason was given for the stoppage, and there was no evidence that it was investigated further. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4542E
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7DC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7DC-144
- Engine
- Continental C-85-8, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Barrett, Philip C., doing business as West Texas Air Museum
- Departed
- TX04 · El Paso, TX
- Destination
- TX04
- Airport
- TX04 · West Texas
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,254 total · 30 in this make and model · 2,177 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- ELP, 9 nm away
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 N4542E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.