Cessna 180K N2738K

Summary

On 20 September 1996 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna 180K registered N2738K was involved in an accident near Derry, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 1996 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Derry, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 180K

Registration

N2738K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Auburn

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96LA187

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect water contaminated fuel, and resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's operation of the aircraft with a known deficiency that consisted of a fuel tank leak.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff climb, at an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the engine lost power; and during a forced landing, the aircraft stuck trees. A postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed the main fuel line from the fuel strainer to the carburetor was full of water. Also disclosed was two fuel leaks on the top of the right wing. According to the pilot/owner, he had noticed the seeping of fuel before the accident. The aircraft had been parked for a few weeks before this accident. This area had experienced heavy rain recently.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.