Cessna 180H N2869U

Summary

On 28 December 2005 at about 15:30 local time, a Cessna 180H registered N2869U, operated by Michael J. Farrey, was involved in an accident near Greenville, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 December 2005 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenville, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

42.7200, -71.7800

Aircraft

Cessna 180H

Registration

N2869U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael J. Farrey

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greenville → Brookline

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06CA047

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection, which resulted in water-contaminated fuel in the engine and subsequent engine failure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he did not sump the fuel tanks during the airplane's preflight inspection, thinking that because the outside temperature had remained below freezing, any water would have been in the form of ice. Shortly after takeoff, about 100 feet, the engine lost power, and the airplane struck trees about 1/4 mile from the end of the runway. The pilot further stated that he thought the cause of the accident was water in the fuel, and that draining the sumps would have prevented the power loss. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed water in the gascolator.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.