Elton Hensley Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fulton, Missouri 65251
Friday, June 21, 1996 19:37 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses reported an abnormal amount of black smoke trailing from the aircraft after takeoff. The airplane subsequently descended through trees and power lines. Postaccident investigation revealed the engine's #1 cylinder did not have compression when checked. After the intake valve of the #1 cylinder was pried back, the cylinder had compression when the propeller was rotated. The #1 cylinder's intake and exhaust manifold areas were darker in color than those of the other cylinders. The #1 cylinder's valve springs were not within the tolerances as listed by the manufacturer.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the inadequate intake valve springs on the #1 cylinder.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/21/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1937
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FULTON
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65251
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ELTON HENSLEY MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FTT
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 886
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2013 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID COU
Elevation of weather observation facility 889
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 988
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 21 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2010
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2397J
NTSB Number CHI96FA209
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion In-flight
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 23
Aircraft Series Identifier 23
Aircraft Serial Number M-364
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Feb 27 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 2563
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARRI PALMER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6465 E. MEXICO GRAVEL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBIA
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65202
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 FTT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 Takeoff
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 23
Runway Length 3205
Runway Width 47
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --