Amateur-built LONG EZE accident near Dorrseyville, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1986
On April 19, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built LONG EZE, registered N40FP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dorrseyville, Pennsylvania (Cedar Run Arpt. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dorrseyville, Pennsylvania · Cedar Run Arpt. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG EZE
- Registration
- N40FP · registry record · serial 1217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING A FORCED LNDG SHORT OF THE RWY AFTER A POWER LOSS DURING A TEST FLT. THE PLT HAD NOTED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. AS HE RETURNED TO THE ARPT THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND SURGE BEFORE QUITTING. DURING THE LNDG THE LNDG GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. DURING ENG EXAM THE CRANKCASE BREATHER TUBE WAS KINKED AND THE OIL SUMP WAS EMPTY OF OIL. THE ENG TURNED FREELY WITH COMPRESSION ON ALL CYLINDERS. NO SIGN OF MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS NOTED. THE LOWER SECTION OF THE ENG WAS COVERED WITH OIL FROM OIL BEING PUMPED OVERBOARD THRU A SEPARATED CRANKCASE OIL SEAL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 12, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTP at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:00 pm
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.