Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fieldon, Illinois 62031
Thursday, September 16, 1993 12:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ONTO AN OPEN FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE #1 PISTON PIN PLUG HAD DETERIORATED TO A FRACTION OF ITS ORIGINAL SIZE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE METAL PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE OIL FILTER AND THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS WERE DISTORTED AND DISCOLORED, AND THE #3 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PARTIAL FAILURE (DETERIORATION) OF THE #1 PISTON PIN PLUG, WHICH RESULTED IN CONTAMINATION OF THE LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND FAILURE OF THE #3 CONNECTING ROD.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FIELDON
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62031
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1678
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 17 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52502
NTSB Number CHI93LA364
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 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 172-74542
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 Aug 26 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 2438
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PREMIER AIR CENTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 18 TERMINAL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City EAST ALTON
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62024
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PREMIER AIR CENTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 18 TERMINAL DRIVE
Operator City EAST ALTON
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 62024
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 IS84
Departure City BETHALTO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1135
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code IS84
Destination City
Destination State
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 --