Yakovlev 52 accident near Moultonboro, New Hampshire, July 14, 2001
On July 14, 2001 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Yakovlev 52, registered N48GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moultonboro, New Hampshire (Moultonboro Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A clogged fuel vent line due to a mud dauber nest, and rough terrain, including a large hole, in the forced landing field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2001 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moultonboro, New Hampshire · Moultonboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yakovlev 52
- Registration
- N48GA · registry record · serial 889214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approaching the destination airport, the engine sputtered and then quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field with rough terrain, and during rollout, the right main landing gear hit a large hole. The right wing drove into the turf, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. On-scene examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was empty, but that the left fuel tank still had fuel. Further examination revealed that the main fuel vent line was clogged about 4 to 5 inches from the vent opening by a mud dauber nest. The clog would have been impossible to see during a preflight inspection.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,825 hours in all; 195 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 16, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 735 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 2001; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,840 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vendeneyev M14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HTO East Hampton NY at 8:45 pm
- Destination: 5M3 Moultonboro NH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 02, 3,625 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from LCI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.