# NTSB SEA84LA203: Whitman W - 8, N7599V, Las Vegas, NV, August 18, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1984, 07:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Coordinates: 36.039318, -114.92926 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0393&lon=-114.9293&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84LA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39992/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA203

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - fluid,fuel - water
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - attempted, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - stall - intentional, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PLT SWITCHED FROM FRONT TO REAR FUEL TANK AT WHICH TIME A TTL LOSS OF PWR OCCURRED. REMEDIAL ACTION WAS ATTEMPTED BUT NO PWR WAS REGAINED. UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE ARPT, PLT APPLIED FULL FLAPS AND STALLED THE ACFT APRX 15 FT AGL OVER THE ROUGH TERRAIN. ACFT WAS REFUELED THE NIGHT PRIOR TO THIS FLT. PLT FAILED TO DRAIN FUEL TANKS ON THE MORNING OF THE FLT. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, AND CARBURETOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7599V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7599V-1985-07-31), registration cancelled 1985-07-31, S/N 46 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WHITMAN W - 8
- Registry model: [C R Benefiel WITTMAN TAILWIND W-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/c-r-benefiel-wittman-tailwind-w-8) (registry code 9790229) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 46
- Airframe hours: 950
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frank R. Amado
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 1984
- Destination: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
- Airport: L15, Las Vegas-Henderson, runway 18, 5,000 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 10 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 19840818041549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840818041549A), Aug 18, 1984: Amtrwt TAILWIND, Las Vegas, NV, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout. Unable to reach airport stalled during forced landing. Found water in the fuel.

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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