- Date
- February 9, 1988, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Perkasie, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N814EZGribosh LONG-EZ
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880209002149A
- Case key
- 35975
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 homebuilt airplane was being operated on its second test flight after manufacture. Witnesses stated that they heard the engine 'making power changes' and 'surging' while the airplane was maneuvering at 30 to 50 feet above the ground. Also, they reported that the airplane banked sharply to the left and fell to the ground. A post-accident investigation revealed that the left fuel tank contained only traces of fuel, while the right tank held an estimated 8 to 9 gallons. The fuel selector was discovered to be 'jammed' in a position between the left & right detents; investigators were able to loosen the selector, but it required 'excessive force and two hands.' The pilot was found about 9 feet from the wreckage; both the seat belt and shoulder harness were unbuckled. Investigators noted that the pilot could not reach the fuel selector with the shoulder harness secured. There was no evidence of mechanical failure/malfunction of the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N814EZ
- Reported as
- Gribosh LONG-EZ
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 703-1
- Airframe hours
- 1
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Joseph E. Gribosh
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · October 2, 1987 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- N70
- Airport
- N70 · Pennridge, runway 8, 4,265 × 100 ft, macadam
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 116 total · 1 in this make and model · 51 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.