Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willcox, Arizona 85643
Wednesday, May 25, 1994 18:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PROPELLER RPM SURGED AND AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE POWER, THE ENGINE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND STOPPED WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS CLOSED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A MESQUITE AND SAGE BRUSH COVERED DESERT. DURING ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED SEVERAL LARGE CLUSTERS OF MESQUITE AND A FENCE RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS. EXAMINATION OF THE 580 HOUR ENGINE REVEALED THAT TWO CONNECTING RODS HAD FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. A BEARING WAS FOUND TO HAVE SPUN, BLOCKING THE ENGINE OIL FLOW. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT 108 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED WITH LOW OIL QUANTITY AND LOW OIL PRESSURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. FACTORS WERE THE PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City WILLCOX
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85643
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 265
Weather Observation Facility ID TUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2389
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 60
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 541
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 26 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 916
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Sep 25 2006 4:00PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50105
NTSB Number FTW94LA181
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier M20J
Aircraft Serial Number 24-3059
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 11 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 572
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LUCHT, ORREN J
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1481 WEST 240 STREET
Aircraft Owner City FARMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55024
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FST
Departure City FORT STOCKTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDL
Destination City SCOTTSDALE
Destination State AZ
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --