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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

May 15, 1998 · Deberry Marquart MA-5 Marquart M · N83MC

Westminster, MD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 15, 1998
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Westminster, MD
Aircraft
Deberry Marquart MA-5 Marquart M
Tail Number
N83MC
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC98LA109

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.

NTSB 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.

Full 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."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:20 EDT
Nearest AirportClearview Airpark (0nm)
Runway31
Runway Length1845 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDeberry Marquart MA-5 Marquart M
Tail NumberN83MC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data