# NTSB NYC01LA032: Navion A, N675JM, Lumberton, NJ, November 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2000, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Lumberton, NJ - Location: 39.9659° N, 74.8052° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lumberton, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9659&lon=-74.8052&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50612 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50612/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA032 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of altitude and distance to the runway while performing a forced landing after an engine failure. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's inadequate rebuilding procedures and maintenance inspection, which resulted in contamination of the fuel supply. ## Analysis As the airplane was in the traffic pattern, the engine lost all power. The pilot turned towards the airport, and observed an airplane at the approach end of the runway. The airplane on the ground appeared to be "in position" on the runway and was not moving, so the pilot extended the flaps to full, and lowered the landing gear to slow the airspeed. Realizing that the increased drag would prohibit a glide to the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane had been in restoration for about 10 years. During the restoration, the fuel tanks were removed, drained, pressurized, and inspected before being reinstalled in the airplane. Upon completion of the restoration, the pilot sought out a mechanic to perform an annual inspection on the airplane; however, due to problems with the airplane, the mechanic refused to "sign off" the annual inspection, and the airplane was flown without it. Examination of the engine after the accident revealed a brown stained liquid, similar to automotive fuel, draining from fuel lines as they were removed. Debris was also observed in the liquid. The pilot stated that he had never put automotive fuel into the airplane; however, "dried auto fuel" may have been present in the fuel tanks, and loosened as new aviation fuel was added to the tanks. The engine had accumulated about 5 total hours since the restoration. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2000, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Navion A, N675JM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at the Flying W Airport (N14), Lumberton, NJ. The certificated airline transport pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane departed the Red Lion Airport, Vincentown, New Jersey, at 1350, and proceeded to N14. As the airplane was in the traffic pattern, on a base leg, the engine lost all power. The pilot turned towards runway 01 and observed an airplane at the end of the runway. The airplane on the ground appeared to be "in position" on the runway and was not moving, so the pilot extended the flaps to full, and lowered the landing gear to slow his airspeed. Realizing that the increased drag would prohibit the glide to the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane touched down in a small valley, impacted a raised bank, and came to rest in brush. The pilot, who was also a certificated airplane mechanic, stated that the airplane had been in restoration for about 10 years. During the restoration the fuel tanks were removed, drained, pressurized, and inspected before being reinstalled. Upon completion of the restoration, the pilot sought out a mechanic to perform an annual inspection on the airplane; however, due to problems with the airplane, the mechanic refused to "sign off" the annual inspection, and the airplane was flown without it. The pilot additionally added that just after the restoration, the engine had been "running rich," and he had to "lean it out." Later test flights revealed no indications of a rich mixture, and the "stacks were burning real clean." The engine had accumulated about 5 total hours since the restoration. The engine was examined on November 17, 2001. As the carburetor was removed from the engine, a brown stained liquid, similar to automotive fuel, was observed draining from the fuel lines as they were removed. Debris was also observed in the liquid when placed into a specimen jar. The pilot was questioned about the liquid drained from the fuel lines. He stated that he had never put automotive fuel into the airplane; however, "dried auto fuel" may have been present in the fuel tanks, and loosened as new aviation fuel was added to the tanks. The carburetor was forwarded to Precision Aviation Products Corporation, Everett, Washington, and examined on February 7, 2001, in the presence of a Safety Board investigator. The examination determined that there was no external damage to the carburetor, and all fittings and levers were present and undamaged. When the carburetor was flow tested, no external leaks were noted, and all tests were to manufacturer's specifications. When the carburetor was disassembled, the inlet screen, jets, and passages, were all absent of contamination. All gaskets and diaphragms were accounted for and undamaged. No unusual contamination was observed inside the carburetor. The pilot of the airplane, which was located at the end of runway 01 at the time of the accident, stated that he was "short" of the runway, when he heard another airplane transmit on the radio that an aircraft was down in the trees. He shut down his airplane and proceeded to the accident site to offer assistance. The pilot added that he had never taxied his airplane onto the active runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - fluid,fuel - contamination (contributing factor) - maintenance,rebuild/remanufacture - inadequate, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Aircraft - Registration: [N675JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N675JM-2003-01-22), registration cancelled 2003-01-22, S/N NAV-4-989, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Navion A - Registry model: [Navion NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-a) (registry code 6150104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4-989 - Engines: Continental E-185 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John H. Mulvey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: N73, VINCENTOWN, NJ - Destination: N14 - Airport: N14, Flying W Airport, runway 1, 3,496 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 31,300 total, 70 in this make and model, 25,100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 145 °F, dew point 106 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WRI, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001108039729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001108039729A), Nov 8, 2000: Tmpson NAVIONA, Medford, NJ, No damage. (-23)During the second interview, Mr. Mulvey explained and confirmed he did not possess a current medical during this flight, which ended in an accident. Due… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.