Dotson SEABIRD N92LL

Summary

On 30 May 1996 at about 14:30 local time, a Dotson SEABIRD registered N92LL was involved in an accident near Geneseo, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 1996 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Geneseo, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.4403, -90.1494

Aircraft

Dotson SEABIRD

Registration

N92LL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96FA179

1 person died.

a loos of power due to a blocked fuel line and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported seeing the airplane about 20 minutes after takeoff traveling south from the airport at about 1000 feet AGL. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and then it came back level for about 2 seconds. Then the nose pitched down again and the airplane entered a steep, left spiral. Witnesses reported hearing the engine sputter and finally quit. The airplane impacted the ground in about a 70-degree nose-down attitude. Both 5-gallon plastic fuel tanks were ruptured during impact. There was evidence of fuel on the ground at the wreckage site. The flight controls and engine exhibited continuity. The cylinders had compression and ignition. Power was supplied to the starter with the spark plugs disconnected. The engine turned over normally. The electric boost pump operated and delivered fuel to the carburetors. The engine-driven impulse fuel pump did not supply fuel to the carburetors. The one-way check valve attached to the hose of the impulse fuel pump was examined and determined that it was blocked due to corrosion. When the impulse pump was tested without the one way check valve attached, the pump worked normally. The electric boost pump switch was found in the off position.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.