Sloulin Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williston, North Dakota 58802
Sunday, July 16, 1995 8:14 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he noticed an engine vibration about 10 minutes after takeoff, and returned to Williston to make a precautionary landing. While approaching the downwind leg for runway 29 the engine seized. He was unable to make a runway landing so he attempted to land on the airport property. He saw hay bales and equipment where he intended to land, and manuevered to avoid the bales. The airplane stalled in a near level attitude, impacting the runway berm. Examination of the engine revealed that the fuel system was running rich at low power settings, but lean at high power settings. The fuel pump was delivering 22 psi of fuel pressure instead of the 34 psi specified. The examination of the number four piston revealed that it was severely eroded around the perimeter of the piston, typical of combustion chamber detonation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

engine failure due to low fuel pressure at high power settings and subsequent detonation. A factor was an evasive maneuver to avoid obstacles which precipitated a stall. Additional factors include the hay bales, farm equipment, and the runway berm.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 814
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WILLISTON
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58802
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SLOULIN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ISN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1982
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID ISN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1982
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1816
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29000
NTSB Number CHI95LA225
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 206
Aircraft Series Identifier 206
Aircraft Serial Number 206-1000
Certified Max Gross Weight 3500
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 2 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 103
Airframe Hours 5507
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN C. HARDER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 350 LOMAX DR. W.
Aircraft Owner City LONGVIEW
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75603
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 ISN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 802
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code YQL
Destination City LETHBRIDGE, CAN
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 --