- Date
- September 7, 1991, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Tranquility, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3721CBoeing PT-17
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910907038619A
- Case key
- 36809
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
Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a stall. The lack of altitude for a recovery from the stall was a related factor.
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
Shortly affter takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot made a shallow right turn, apparently in preparation for a forced landing in a field. The engine started running again, and the pilot initiated a left turn as if to turn back toward the runway. During the turn, the engine lost power again. The aircraft then entered a steep descent and crashed. The cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined. At the airport where N3721C had been parked, several pilots reported insects nests in fuel vents, causing blockage of these openings.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3721C
- Reported as
- Boeing PT-17
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-3541
- Engine
- Wright W-670-6A, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John E. Snyder
- Registered owner
- John E. Snyder
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- 13N
- Airport
- 13N · Trinca
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 358 total · 250 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days · 3.5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- 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.