Amateur-built EAA BIPLANE accident near North Canaan, Connecticut, July 31, 1994
On July 31, 1994 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built EAA BIPLANE, registered N35AE, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Canaan, Connecticut (Segalla Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection that failed to detect water contaminated fuel and which resulted in a loss of engine power. The inadequately designed fuel drain system was also a cause.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1994 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- North Canaan, Connecticut · Segalla Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAA BIPLANE EAA BIPLAN
- Registration
- N35AE · registry record · serial 3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON TAKEOFF CLIMB AT 400 TO 500 FEET AGL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL LINE FROM THE CARBURETOR TO THE FUEL STRAINER AND THE CARBURETOR BOWL. THE FUEL TANK WAS FLAT ON THE BOTTOM WITH A DRAIN LINE LEADING TO THE FUEL STRAINER EMANATING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE TANK. A TEST CONDUCTED BY THE OWNER FOUND THAT WITH THE AIRFRAME IN A THREE POINT ATTITUDE ON THE GROUND AND THE FUEL TANK EMPTY, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO ADD 40 OUNCES OF FUEL PRIOR TO FUEL RUNNING OUT OF THE DRAIN HOLE. ACCORDING TO THE EAA, THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK DESIGN WAS DETERMINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL BUILDER. THE AIRPLANE WAS BUILT BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,220 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,075 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1993; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:30 pm
- Destination: NONE CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,325 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.