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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

July 25, 1990 · Lake LA-4-200 · N8011M

Gt. Barrington, MA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 25, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Gt. Barrington, MA
Aircraft
Lake LA-4-200
Tail Number
N8011M
Operator
Paul E Thorn
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC90FA171

After takeoff the airplane climbed to about 50 feet AGL and the plt attempted to accelerate twice by lowering the nose, losing altitude each time. The airplane then banked right before flying into trees about 1,500 feet from the end of the runway. Impact occurred in a residential backyard. The passenger escaped but was unable to rescue the pilot before fire consumed the cabin. An engine run was successful but failed to attain air flow and RPM test points. Disassembly revealed corrosion throughout indicating that the engine had been inactive for extended periods of time. There was also evidence of multiple worn components and metal contamination. Compression on cylinders 1-4 was 65/80, 75/80, and 69/80 respectively. Left magneto timing was 24.5 degrees BTC vice the correct timing of 20 degrees BTC. An annual inspection was performed on 4/5/90. The engine was not capable of producing rated power due to mechanical inefficiency and wear limits being exceeded.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE ENGINE, THE INADEQUATE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTION, LOW COMPRESSION, AND IMPROPER MAGNETO TIMING. A FACTOR WAS THE RESULTANT DETERIORATED CLIMB PERFORMANCE.

Full Narrative

AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FEET AGL AND THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TWICE BY LOWERING THE NOSE, LOSING ALTITUDE EACH TIME. THE AIRPLANE THEN BANKED RIGHT BEFORE FLYING INTO TREES ABOUT 1,500 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. IMPACT OCCURRED IN A RESIDENTIAL BACKYARD. THE PASSENGER ESCAPED BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESCUE THE PILOT BEFORE FIRE CONSUMED THE CABIN. AN ENGINE RUN WAS SUCCESSFUL BUT FAILED TO ATTAIN AIR FLOW AND RPM TEST POINTS. DISASSEMBLY REVEALED CORROSION THROUGHOUT INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN INACTIVE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE OF MULTIPLE WORN COMPONENTS AND METAL CONTAMINATION. COMPRESSION ON CYLINDERS 1-4 WAS 65/80, 75/80, AND 69/80 RESPECTIVELY. LEFT MAGNETO TIMING WAS 24.5 DEGREES BTC VICE THE CORRECT TIMING OF 20 DEGREES BTC. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON 4/5/90. THE ENGINE WAS NOT CAPABLE OF PRODUCING RATED POWER DUE TO MECHANICAL INEFFICIENCY AND WEAR LIMITS BEING EXCEEDED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 EDT
Nearest AirportGreat Barrington (0nm N)
Runway29
Runway Length2600 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLake LA-4-200
Tail NumberN8011M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPaul E Thorn
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1B · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 68 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data