Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yoncalla, Oregon 97499
Thursday, May 20, 1993 10:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ESTABLISHED IN CRUISE AT 4000 FEET THE PILOT HEARD A PECULIAR SOUND AND OBSERVED DECREASING ENGINE RPM. AS THE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE TO 1200 THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE VIA THE IGNITION AND INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD ALONGSIDE AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DURING HIS APPROACH TO THE NORTH HE FOUND HIS GROUND SPEED TO BE EXCESSIVE AND ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN DURING WHICH TIME THE LEFT WINGTIP IMPACTED THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE FORD V6 ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE OIL FILTER/ COOLER HAD VIBRATED LOOSE ALLOWING THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK OVERBOARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE ENGINE OIL FILTER VIBRATING LOOSE RESULTING IN OIL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S MISJUDGMENT OF WINDS. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City YONCALLA
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97499
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1048 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID RBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 525
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 378
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 20 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1204
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52017
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:20PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54265
NTSB Number SEA93LA113
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 MURPHY
Aircraft Model BARRACUDA
Aircraft Series Identifier BARRACUDA
Aircraft Serial Number 525
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 3 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 115
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MURPHY, ROY S.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4190 JUNCO ROAD
Aircraft Owner City GREENBANK
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98253
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MURPHY, ROY S.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4190 JUNCO ROAD
Operator City GREENBANK
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98253
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 WA31
Departure City LANGLEY
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 845
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WLW
Destination City WILLOWS
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --