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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 16, 1995 · Cumberland-Pitts Special S1C · N4T

New Windsor, MD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 16, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
New Windsor, MD
Aircraft
Cumberland-Pitts Special S1C
Tail Number
N4T
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC95LA075

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE, ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT TRIED TO ELIMINATE THE ROUGHNESS BY USE OF A HAND WOBBLE FUEL PUMP AND SWITCHING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAGNETOS. THE ENGINE INITIALLY GOT BETTER, THEN GOT WORSE, FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A BACKYARD. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT THE LANDING GEAR BROKE ON LANDING 'BECAUSE I HIT TOO HARD.' DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION, THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM WAS RUPTURED.

NTSB Probable Cause

the failure of the fuel pump diagram which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent forced landing.

Full Narrative

On Thursday, March 16, 1995, about 1737 eastern standard time, a Pitts Special, N4T, owned and operated by William T. Cumberland, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at New Windsor, Maryland. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was no flight plan for the local flight being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot departed Westminster, Maryland about 1630 on a personal flight. While in cruise flight the engine started to run rough. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated, ...Engine started to run rough...and [I] tried the hand wobble fuel pump. Engine started to run better and then it got worse. Tried both magnetos....The engine stopped running....I picked out a corn field and headed for that. I ran out of altitude before I got to the field [and] landed in [a] backyard....Broke landing gear because I hit too hard. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, revealed that the fuel pump diaphragm had ruptured.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:37 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCumberland-Pitts Special S1C
Tail NumberN4T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 6 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 45 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data