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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 18, 1988 · Globe GC-1B · N78143

Powderly, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 18, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Powderly, TX
Aircraft
Globe GC-1B
Tail Number
N78143
Operator
Richard M Maginn
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW88FA103

THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR MORE THAN SEVEN MONTHS. IT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION. WITNESSES SAID THE PILOT RAN THE ENGINE AND IT RAN ROUGH. THEN HE WASHED THE AIRPLANE, THEN REFUELED, DRAINED THE SUMPS AND RAN THE ENGINE AGAIN AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPORT MANAGER SAID HE THOUGHT THE PILOT WAS ONLY GOING TO MAKE A HIGH SPEED TAXI BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO BAD. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF BUT DID NOT CLIMB. IT HIT A TREE, THEN A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINE, THEN THE TERRAIN AND A PORCH OF A HOUSE AND STARTED BURNING. SOME SPARK PLUGS WERE DIRTY AND WATER WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR FLOAT CHAMBER. THE PLASTIC CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS CRACKED OPEN.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR MORE THAN SEVEN MONTHS. IT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION. WITNESSES SAID THE PILOT RAN THE ENGINE AND IT RAN ROUGH. THEN HE WASHED THE AIRPLANE, THEN REFUELED, DRAINED THE SUMPS AND RAN THE ENGINE AGAIN AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPORT MANAGER SAID HE THOUGHT THE PILOT WAS ONLY GOING TO MAKE A HIGH SPEED TAXI BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO BAD. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF BUT DID NOT CLIMB. IT HIT A TREE, THEN A HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINE, THEN THE TERRAIN AND A PORCH OF A HOUSE AND STARTED BURNING. SOME SPARK PLUGS WERE DIRTY AND WATER WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR FLOAT CHAMBER. THE PLASTIC CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS CRACKED OPEN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:16 CDT
Nearest AirportPOWDERLY (1nm S)
Runway17
Runway Length2945 ft
Runway Width38 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGlobe GC-1B
Tail NumberN78143
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRichard M Maginn
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-145 · Reciprocating · 145
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

External Links

Appendix: Source Data