Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74132
Tuesady, November 10, 1998 13:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft's engine lost power due to severe detonation shortly after takeoff. During the ensuing forced landing on a road, the airplane collided with trees and the road median. The pilot stated that he had leaned the mixture during climb to 30 gallons per hour because the fuel flow gauge was indicating 'red line of about 35 gallons per hour.' During the climb, the engine RPM started to 'over speed.' The pilot stated that he attempted to reduce engine RPM with the propeller control then subsequently with the throttle; however, the engine 'quit.' Examination of the engine revealed that all of the cylinders showed signs of severe overheating and characteristics of lean mixture operation and detonation. According to the performance charts, the fuel flow should have been set to approximately 20.5 gallons per hour. The complete engine fuel system was bench checked revealing no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the engine. Post-accident testing of the fuel flow gauge revealed that the gauge operated correctly and indicated fuel flow properly.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to detonation for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City TULSA
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 74132
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 11
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 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID RVS
Elevation of weather observation facility 638
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 341
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1615
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 10 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2056
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24TH
NTSB Number FTW99LA023
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 Beech
Aircraft Model 35-C33
Aircraft Series Identifier 35-C33
Aircraft Serial Number CD-911
Certified Max Gross Weight 3050
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 Oct 11 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HENRY ADAMS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 955 POCAHONTAS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FLORA
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39071
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WALTER R BROWN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4369 S ALLEGHENEY
Operator City TULSA
Operator State OK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 74135
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 RVS
Departure City
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MKC
Destination City KANSAS CITY
Destination State KS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 --