Schultz/Bowers FLY BABY 1A N4295X
12 July 1993 · Conneaut, Ohio, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 12 July 1993 at about 23:01 local time, a Schultz/Bowers FLY BABY 1A registered N4295X, operated by Robert C. Schultz, was involved in an accident near Conneaut, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:01
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Conneaut, Ohio, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.9205, -80.5709
- Aircraft
- Schultz/Bowers FLY BABY 1A
- Registration
- N4295X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Robert C. Schultz
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Jefferson → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO93LA122
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
OPERATIONAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO'S HIGH TENSION WIRING DUE TO GREASE/CORROSION, WHICH RESULTED IN A PROGRESSIVE POWER LOSS AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE IN CRUISE, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS OVER A FIELD AND DECIDED TO CIRCLE AND LAND IN THE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE SECOND TIME HE WENT AROUND THE FIELD, DOWNWIND, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A BERM ON THE SIDE OF A ROAD JUST SHORT OF THE FIELD. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE IMPACTING THE BERM, THE ENGINE WAS 'MISSING.' POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE COCKPIT MAGNETO SWITCH WAS SELECTED TO THE LEFT MAGNETO. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND THE LEFT MAGNETO HIGH TENSION LEAD WAS FOUND CORRODED WITH GEAR GREASE CAUSING INTERMITTENT ARCING. SPARK PLUGS ON THE NUMBER 2 AND 3 CYLINDERS WERE FOUND TO BE SOOTY AND THE SPARK PLUGS ON THE NUMBER 1 AND 4 CYLINDERS APPEARED 'NOT TO BE FIRING.' THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT LEAVE THE MAGNETO SWITCHED TO THE 'LEFT' POSITION AND THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN MOVED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1993 | Leveck VANCRAFT | Hebron, Ohio, United States | Jack Leveck | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 May 1993 | Forest Ripley Z MAX | Delaware, Ohio, United States | Forest Ripley | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-28-181 | Columbia Stn, Ohio, United States | Illinois Valley Flying Club | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 May 1993 | Meador DRAGONFLY SP | Hamilton, Ohio, United States | William R Meador | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 1993 | Cessna 180H | New Philadelphi, Ohio, United States | Robert Henry | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-28-151 | Painesville, Ohio, United States | Robert Chin | No injuries | - |