Massey SUPER STALLION N6143E

Summary

On 30 April 1999 at about 17:00 local time, a Massey SUPER STALLION registered N6143E was involved in an accident near Shafter, California, 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

30 April 1999 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Shafter, California, United States

Nearest airport

Shafter-Minter (MIT)

Coordinates

35.4910, -119.2995

Aircraft

Massey SUPER STALLION

Registration

N6143E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99LA167

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to attempt a landing with insufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on its third test flight since completion. Ground crews observing the airplane during takeoff thought a landing gear door did not close properly and requested a fly-by for a visual inspection. Although instructed several times that a low pass was not necessary, the pilot stated his intention to do a low pass. The pilot stated he was 400 feet above the ground at 140 knots when he turned onto final, and then the engine quit prior to crossing the approach end of the runway. He attempted to restart the engine by turning on the electric fuel pump and moving the throttle and mixture controls in and out, but was unsuccessful. He lowered the landing gear and attempted to land straight ahead. He touched down near the far end of the runway at 100 knots, then proceeded off the end of the runway into a fence. Witnesses heard the engine at a normal high power setting until an abrupt reduction and a pop sound occurred just as the landing gear was lowered. The factory new engine was found with fuel through the system from the tanks to the mechanical fuel pump, and the fuel tank vent line was open. When the engine was subsequently tested, it started without difficulty. During a run-up, the magnetos were checked and the propeller was cycled. All engine parameters were within the manufacturer's recommended limits.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.