McMillin FISHER 404 UNREG

Summary

On 1 May 1993 at about 22:01 local time, a McMillin FISHER 404 registered UNREG, operated by James McMillin, was involved in an accident near Wampum, Pennsylvania, 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

1 May 1993 at 22:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Wampum, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.8797, -80.3302

Aircraft

McMillin FISHER 404

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James McMillin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO93LA080

Nobody was injured.

THE OVERTORQUE OF A SAFETY WIRE ON A PLASTIC FUEL LINE, CAUSING THE LINE TO SPLIT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ABOUT 45 SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING, AND DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TREE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT A PLASTIC FUEL LINE HAD BEEN SAFETY WIRED AND THE WIRE WAS OVER TORQUED, CAUSING THE FUEL LINE TO SPLIT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM TAKE OFF, AIR ENTERED THE FUEL LINE, STARVING THE ENGINE OF FUEL. THE PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER 14 CFR PART 103 AS AN ULTRALIGHT AND DID NOT HOLD ANY FAA CERTIFICATES. THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHED OVER THE WEIGHT LIMITATION OF 254 POUNDS AS IMPOSED BY 14 CFR PART 103; THEREFORE, IT WAS DESIGNATED AN AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.