# NTSB NYC98LA109: Deberry Marquart MA-5, N83MC, Westminster, MD, May 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 1998, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Westminster, MD - Coordinates: 39.569297, -76.999183 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5693&lon=-76.9992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39562 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39562/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA109 ## Probable cause Failure of a fuel line fitting which led to an engine failure and fire. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,line fitting - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Fire, emergency landing after takeoff - fuel system,line fitting - leak (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing after takeoff - stall - intentional, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis After takeoff, about 100 feet above the ground, the airplane suffered a complete power loss. The pilot activated the wobble pump, but the engine would not respond. He tried to dissipate airspeed and altitude with skidding S-turns to remain over the runway. The pilot said he then intentionally stalled the airplane because the runway had no overrun, and the terrain dropped sharply, about 100 feet, into a creek and trees. The airplane stalled from about a 30 foot height, impacted left wing, nose down, and came to rest upside down, just off the end of the runway. It was consumed by fire. The pilot said he felt the airplane was on fire in flight, before the crash. Examination revealed the carburetor flexible inlet line had failed at the sleeve fitting. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 1998, about 1320 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Deberry Marquart MA-5, N83MC, was destroyed during a forced landing after takeoff from Clearview Airpark Airport (2W2), Westminster, Maryland. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The accident airplane was the fourth airplane to be constructed by the pilot, and had 27 hours of total flight time. He stated it "performed normally on takeoff," then experienced a complete power loss about 100 feet above ground. The pilot activated the wobble pump, but the engine would not respond. He then "S-turned" by using the rudder to slip the airplane. His stated his intention was to bleed off airspeed and altitude, so as to remain over the runway. Then, he intentionally stalled the airplane at about 30 feet, and it impacted left wing, nose down. It came to rest upside down, just off the end of the runway, and fire consumed it. The pilot stated he intentionally stalled the airplane because there was no runway overrun, and the terrain dropped sharply, about 100 feet, into a creek and trees. In a statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot said he felt the airplane was on fire in flight, before the crash. According to the Inspector, "Investigation at the accident site and engine teardown inspection support this supposition. The carburetor flexible inlet line failed at the sleeve fitting, causing a fuel jet effect or blowtorch effect due to the higher fuel pressure from the action of the wobble pump.... Unable to determine if the failure of the flexible fuel line was due to improper manufacture of the line or improper installation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83MC-2001-09-17), registration cancelled 2001-09-17, S/N 0191 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Deberry MARQUART MA-5 (MARQUART M) - Registry model: [Deberry Stephen W MARQUART MA-5 CHARGR](https://openairdocs.org/model/deberry-stephen-w-marquart-ma-5-chargr) (registry code 05624KP) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0191 - Airframe hours: 27 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven W. Deberry - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1998, 27 hours before - Departed: 2W2 - Airport: 2W2, Clearview Airpark, runway 31, 1,845 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,884 total, 27 in this make and model, 4,794 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KBW, 29 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 19980515009529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980515009529A), May 15, 1998: Amtr MA5, Westminster, MD, Destroyed. Acft exper engine problems. Pilot made forced landing. Flipped over inverted and burned at the end runway. (.4)after takeoff, about 100 feet above the ground,… 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.