NYC82DA204

Factual narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE PREFLIGHTED THE AIRCRAFT, THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL. FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM EACH WING AND THE FUSELAGE LOW POINT WITH NO INDICATION OF WATER. DURING TAKEOFF, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 FT AS THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND RPM WERE BEING ADJUSTED. WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING AND POWER LINES AHEAD, THE PILOT TURNED TOWARD A LANDFILL. HE PUMPED THE THROTTLE AND PARTIAL POWER WAS GAINED, BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED ON A SANDY SURFACE, AND AFTER ROLLING FOR ABOUT 30 FT, THE WHEELS DUG IN AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT SUSPECTED THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE CARBURETOR DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE HAD DRAINED THE SUMPS BEFORE TAKEOFF AND FOUND NO WATER. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12