Madison County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Athens, Alabama 35611
Saturday, April 23, 1994 16:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE FLYING AT 2000 FEET MSL, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. ATTEMPTS BY THE PILOT TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED; THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A ROUGH FIELD ADJACENT TO A HORSE RACE TRACK. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE THAT, THE OIL DILUTION ACCESS PLUG WAS MISSING WHICH ALLOWED THE ENGINE OIL PUMP TO CAVITATE; THE PLUG WAS NOT LOCATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER, THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED SIX HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A SERVICE BULLETIN REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED PLUG WITH A SQUARE HEAD PLUG WITH A SAFETY WIRE FEATURE WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL AN ACCESS PLUG WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/23/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ATHENS
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35611
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MADISON COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID M82
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 35
Degrees magnetic from airport 70
Airport Elevation 755
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID HSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1450
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 637
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:59AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2945F
NTSB Number ATL94LA085
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182J
Aircraft Series Identifier 182J
Aircraft Serial Number 182-57045
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 1800
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MCCORKLE, WILLIAM C.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 104 STONEWAY CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City MADISON
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35758
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --