Dalton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dalton, Georgia 30720
Friday, October 13, 1995 19:32 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during a climb through about 7,000 feet msl, the engine manifold pressure dropped to about 22 inches, and the engine oil pressure dropped to zero. He advised ATC that he would need to execute an emergency landing. During an emergency instrument landing procedure at dusk, he was unable to land on the intended runway, and the airplane impacted the terrain. Examination of the aircraft revealed old oil stains on the underside of the aircraft from the engine cowling trailing to the tail. Examination of the engine revealed that the number one and two connecting rods had failed as a result of thermal stretching and breaking of the rod bolts. No (new) oil leakage path was observed during the examination to indicate that the engine was leaking oil at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Oil starvation for an unknown reason, which resulted in progressive connecting rod failure and subsequent loss of engine power. Factors relating to the accident were: the unfavoable weather and light conditions (low ceiling and fog at dusk), which hampered the pilot in seeing the runway during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1932
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DALTON
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30720
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DALTON MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DNN
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 710
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1921 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DNN
Elevation of weather observation facility 710
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1868
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3983H
NTSB Number ATL96LA005
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 M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier M20K
Aircraft Serial Number 25-0387
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Jul 14 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 1784
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WERNER J. LINDGREN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4752 E. LAWN APT 8 PO BOX 7163
Aircraft Owner City ROCKFORD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61108
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 No
Departure Airport Code 8A4
Departure City MARIETTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1C8
Destination City ROCKFORD
Destination State IL
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 32
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --