# NTSB NYC84FIG04: Jett Shoestring, N53J, Gaithersburg, MD, September 10, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: September 10, 1984, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Gaithersburg, MD
- Coordinates: 39.16986, -77.179138 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1699&lon=-77.1791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35408
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FIG04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35408/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FIG04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO DESCEND NEAR VERTICALLY TO GROUND IMPACT. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED DISCREPANCIES IN THE CARBURETOR ASSEMBLY. THE PLT HAD COMPLAINED OF CARBURETOR FLOAT PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE FLT. THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53J-1984-11-29), registration cancelled 1984-11-29, S/N 36 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JETT SHOESTRING
- Registry model: [Jett SHOESTRING](https://openairdocs.org/model/jett-shoestring) (registry code 0565939) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 36
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-8F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hubert F. Jett
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 1982, 0 hours before
- Departed: GIA, GAITHERSBURG, MD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 365 total, 109 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD, 20 nm away

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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