Grants-Milan Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grants, New Mexico 87020
Tuesady, December 30, 1997 11:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot serviced the right engine with oil prior to departure. While in flight, oil was observed coming from the rear of the right engine. The pilot feathered the right engine; however, the aircraft was not able to maintain altitude, and he brought the right engine back on line. Prior to landing, the pilot lowered the landing gear and feathered the propeller. The right engine stopped at approximately 100 feet short of the approach end of the runway and the aircraft stalled approximately 15 feet above the ground. The aircraft dropped suddenly, then impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed that the oil cap was not properly secured on the right engine. As a result, oil was being siphoned from the oil filler tube.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to secure the right engine oil cap, resulting in oil exhaustion and the loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/30/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GRANTS
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87020
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRANTS-MILAN MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GNT
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 6520
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 6520
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5248
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1679
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 31 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 741
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N87358
NTSB Number FTW98LA081
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 310R
Aircraft Series Identifier 310R
Aircraft Serial Number 0529
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 3 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BENNIE DURAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 641 LA VEGA DR SW
Aircraft Owner City ALBUQUERQUE
Aircraft Owner State NM
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 87105
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 E98
Departure City LOS LUNAS
Departure State NM
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L39
Destination City RAMONA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight 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 31
Runway Length 5300
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --