Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grass Lake, Michigan 49240
Sunday, June 9, 1991 14:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT SAID THAT WHILE CRUISING AT 3000 FEET MSL, HE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT, THEN A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. THE PLT REDUCED POWER TO A MINIMUM AND ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A HAY FIELD. OVERSHOOTING HIS INTENDED LANDING SITE, HE TRIED TO LAND IN AN ADJACENT FIELD, BUT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE, A RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY, THEN BOUNCED AND SLID TO A STOP ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN OIL COOLER HOSE HAD FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A RUPTURED OIL COOLER LINE. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/9/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GRASS LAKE
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49240
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID JXN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1000
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1378
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44080
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7470R
NTSB Number CHI91LA184
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 22-22018
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCOTT G. MILLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1229 EVELYN
Aircraft Owner City YPSILANTI
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48198
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SCOTT G. MILLER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1229 EVELYN
Operator City YPSILANTI
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48198
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 ARB
Departure City ANN ARBOR
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JXN
Destination City JACKSON
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --