BFO86FA037

Factual narrative

WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL DURING TAKEOFF RUN BUT STARTED TO LOSE POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 30 AT LEE AIRPORT, ANNAPOLIS, MD. THE RUNWAY IS 2400 FEET LONG AND BEARDS CREEK IS LOCATED ABOUT 200 FEET OFF ITS DEPARTURE END. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A STEEP 180 DEGREE RIGHT TURN OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE RIGHT WING CONTACTING THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE. ALTHOUGH EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT WAS KNOWN TO FREQUENTLY USE AUTO FUEL IN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN APPROVED TO USE UNLEADED AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH STC SA802GL. THE PLTS PLT LOG BOOKS WERE NOT RECOVERED FOR FLT TIME. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12