- Date
- June 30, 2006, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Montgomery, NY
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4TBBaker, Timithy Falco F8L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Teterboro FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060630022169A
- Case key
- 64029
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 inadequate pre-flight 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 pilot of the homebuilt Falco F8L reported that he drained three to four cups of water from the airplane's fuel system prior to takeoff. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine began to run rough and lost power. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane had been parked outside the week prior to the flight, during abnormally high rainfall. The pilot also said he was not sufficiently careful in draining the airplane's fuel tank. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the homebuilt Falco F8L reported that he drained three to four cups of water from the airplane's fuel system prior to takeoff. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine began to run rough and lose power. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane impacted the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that the airplane had been parked outside the week prior to the flight, during abnormally high rainfall. The pilot also said he was not sufficiently careful in draining the airplane's fuel tank. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4TB
- Reported as
- Baker, Timithy Falco F8L
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 886
- Airframe hours
- 740
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Walter Crocco
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · December 1, 2002
- Departed
- MGJ · Montgomery, NY
- Airport
- MGJ · Orange County, runway 26, 3,672 × 100 ft
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
- 77
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,890 total · 480 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 8 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- MGJ
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.