# NTSB MIA85FA128: Cessna P337H, N4EY, Leesburg, FL, March 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1985, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Location: 28.8290° N, 81.8234° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LEESBURG INTL (LEE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8290&lon=-81.8234&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31236
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85FA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31236/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85FA128

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,cap - leak (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,inspection - improper (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - contamination
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance,two or more engines - erratic
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ON THE MORNING OF 3/22/85, THE PLT ARRIVED AT THE LEESBURG MUNI ARPT TO PICK UP AN ACFT THAT HAD BEEN PAINTED. APRX 4 WEEKS EARLIER, THE ACFT HAD BEEN FERRIED THERE FOR THE PAINT JOB. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING TAKEOFF, BOTH ENGS LOST POWER AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL & HE TRIED TO TURN BACK TO THE ARPT. SEVERAL WITNESSES SAID THAT THEY SAW THE ACFT TURNING IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE, THEN IT SPUN INTO TREES. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT WAS IN A STEEP DESCENT WHEN IT CRASHED. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FRONT & REAR GASCOLATORS & FUEL INJECTION MANIFOLD VALVES. BOTH OUTBOARD SCUPPER DRAINS WERE CLOGGED WITH DIRT. ALSO, BOTH FUEL CAPS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE & WOULD ALLOW WATER TO LEAK INTO THE TANKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4EY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4EY-2012-11-15), registration cancelled 2012-11-15, S/N P3370320, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P337H
- Registry model: [Cessna P337H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p337h) (registry code 2075731) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P3370320
- Airframe hours: 802
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-C 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Foster B.Burdette
- Registered owner: Burdette Realty Improvements,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 1985, 26 hours before
- Destination: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL
- Airport: LEE, Leesburg Muni, runway 31, 4,984 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,100 total, 2,600 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850322012129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850322012129A), Mar 22, 1985: Cessna P337H, Leesburg, FL, Destroyed. Loss of engine power during takeoff due to water in fuel. Fuel caps were leaking. Spun into trees.

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.

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