Amateur-built Fokker D VII accident near Geneseo, New York, July 13, 2007
On July 13, 2007 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Fokker D VII, registered CGWWI, was substantially damaged in an accident near Geneseo, New York (Geneseo Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loosening of the fuel filter, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2007 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Geneseo, New York · Geneseo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Fokker D VII
- Registration
- CGWWI · no longer on the register · serial 5125118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident airplane was the first of six airplanes performing a formation takeoff. During the takeoff, and about 100 feet above the ground, the engine gradually began losing power. The pilot initially attempted to turn back toward the airport, but was unable to maintain airspeed in the turn. He subsequently attempted to perform a forced landing to a field, but struck a tree during the descent. Two witnesses observed the airplane trailing "smoke" or "mist" as it descended. Examination of the engine revealed no obvious mechanical deficiencies; however, the fuel filter was loose in its housing, and the immediate area of the cowling and firewall around it appeared cleaner than the rest of both surfaces. The fuel filter was last removed and inspected 3 days, and about 26 flight hours, prior to the accident. The carburetor maintenance manual stated that the fuel system must maintain a positive pressure in order for the engine to run.
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
- Flight time: 17,500 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 214 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days; 15,957 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2007; 26 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ranger 6-440-C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D52 Geneseo NY at 8:45 pm
- Destination: D52
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,695 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from ROC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.