Siegel Gerald LONG EZ N7015T

Summary

On 30 November 2014 at about 18:48 local time, a Siegel Gerald LONG EZ registered N7015T was involved in an accident near McGregor, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 November 2014 at 18:48

Classification

Accident

Location

McGregor, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Mc Gregor Executive (PWG)

Coordinates

31.4747, -97.3203

Aircraft

Siegel Gerald LONG EZ

Registration

N7015T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1989

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

McGregor → Teague

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA063

1 person was seriously injured.

A loss of engine power during takeoff due to excessive debris in the fuel system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot was taking off from the airport. A witness reported that, immediately after the airplane became airborne, it began flying erratically and that he then heard the pilot make a radio call, during which the pilot stated that he was aborting the takeoff because the cockpit canopy had opened. The airplane descended and struck a vehicle on a highway near the south end of the airport. The airplane then impacted trees and terrain and came to rest inverted. Emergency responders reported that the pilot told them that he had climbed the airplane to a maximum of 100 to 200 ft when the engine lost power. An on-scene examination revealed that the airplane was extensively fragmented; all of the airplane's major components were located at the accident site. Both fuel tanks were breached, which resulted in a fuel spill but no postimpact fire. The cockpit canopy frame was observed mostly intact and partially impact-separated. The inside canopy latch was observed latched and locked. Both propeller blades were separated near the propeller hub and did not exhibit evidence of significant power at impact. An engine examination revealed that there was excessive debris in the gascolator bowl and corrosion on the gasket mating surface; the gascolator housing exhibited excessive wear and had a rusty, rough surface. The excessive debris in the fuel system likely restricted the fuel flow to the engine and resulted in the subsequent total loss of engine power during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.