What happened
On June 5, 2010, a Beech B19 (Musketeer Sport), registration N1958W, crashed in an industrial area of Rohokomo, New York, during a local instructional flight. The flight departed from Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) under visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed for the mission, which was intended to practice takeoffs and landings.
During the initial climb, approximately 400 feet above the ground, the engine power began to degrade and the engine started to sputter. The flight instructor took control of the aircraft and attempted to steer the plane toward an available opening. Approximately 10 seconds after the power loss began, the aircraft struck the ground, skidded, and came to a stop against an office building. The cockpit area was immediately engulfed in flames. The instructor and the student pilot sustained 2 serious injuries.
The investigation
An investigation of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft impacted several trees and left gouges in a nearby parking lot before resting against a building. The cabin area and the inboard half of both wings sustained significant fire damage, while the vertical and horizontal stabilizers showed impact damage.
Mechanical examination of the engine and fuel system provided key details:
- The fuel selector valve was found in an "OFF" position.
- The right wing fuel cap was not completely seated.
- The carburetor was disassembled, revealing approximately two tablespoons of water in the carburetor bowl, though no fuel was present.
- When the throttle was exercised, water was observed exiting the accelerator pump.
- The engine's spark plugs showed normal wear, and the vacuum pump and magnetos were functional.
- The oil filter and oil screen showed no evidence of metal debris.
- The fuel system examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions in the hardware itself.