Rans S-14 AIRAILE UNREG

Summary

On 24 August 1994 at about 00:25 local time, a Rans S-14 AIRAILE registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 1994 at 00:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.1307, -75.5094

Aircraft

Rans S-14 AIRAILE

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Collegeville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO94LA147

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to perform a preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP HEADING WEST. DURING THE CLIMB HE MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN NORTHBOUND. THE ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TURN RIGHT TO THE SOUTH. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED OVER THE RUNWAY, AND THEN MADE A LEFT 180 TO 270 DEGREE TURN. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE AFT CARBURETOR FUEL BOWL CONTAINED WATER. AN ENGINE TEST RUN WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE FAA. THE FAA STATED THAT THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE PILOT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, AND STATED 'NO PREFLIGHT INSPECTION DONE.' THE STUDENT PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.