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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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August 16, 1987 · Fleet 16B · N41871

Bellevue, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 16, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Bellevue, WA
Aircraft
Fleet 16B
Tail Number
N41871
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA87FA165

THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A GOLF COURSE AFTER A POWER LOSS WHICH HE ATTRIBUTED TO CARBURETOR ICE. SUBSEQUENT TO THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT WAS FUELED WITH 10 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. THE FUEL WAS CHECKED FOR WATER AT THE STRAINER DRAIN AND THE PILOT AND RATED PASSENGER THEN TAXIED OUT CONDUCTING AN ENGINE RUNUP BEFORE TAKING OFF. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY QUIT AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE GOLF COURSE, THE ONLY SUITABLE LANDING AREA AVAILABLE. THE ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE POWER LOSS PRECLUDED A SUCCESSFUL COURSE REVERSAL AND LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONCOULD BE RELATED TO THE ENGINE NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF WATER IN THE FUEL. ALTHOUGH CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE RAPIDITY OF THE POWER CESSATION WAS SUCH THAT CARBURETOR ICING WAS UNLIKELY.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A GOLF COURSE AFTER A POWER LOSS WHICH HE ATTRIBUTED TO CARBURETOR ICE. SUBSEQUENT TO THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT WAS FUELED WITH 10 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. THE FUEL WAS CHECKED FOR WATER AT THE STRAINER DRAIN AND THE PILOT AND RATED PASSENGER THEN TAXIED OUT CONDUCTING AN ENGINE RUNUP BEFORE TAKING OFF. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY QUIT AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE GOLF COURSE, THE ONLY SUITABLE LANDING AREA AVAILABLE. THE ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE POWER LOSS PRECLUDED A SUCCESSFUL COURSE REVERSAL AND LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONCOULD BE RELATED TO THE ENGINE NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF WATER IN THE FUEL. ALTHOUGH CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE RAPIDITY OF THE POWER CESSATION WAS SUCH THAT CARBURETOR ICING WAS UNLIKELY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:33 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftFleet 16B
Tail NumberN41871
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsKinner · R56 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind230° @ 11 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data