Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Knox, Indiana 46534
Monday, October 14, 1991 20:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 11,000 FEET THE PILOT NOTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND '0' OIL PRESSURE. THE AIRPLANE WAS VECTORED TO THE CLOSEST AIRPORT BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A CORN FIELD AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED A BROKEN ROD ON THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE #2 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO REACH A SUITABLE LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/14/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City KNOX
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46534
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 1951 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID SBN
Elevation of weather observation facility 799
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
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 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) 506
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44974
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 N3947H
NTSB Number CHI92LA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20K
Aircraft Series Identifier M20K
Aircraft Serial Number 25-0450
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 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 Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHERN HARVEST FURNITURE,INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 WEST END AVE
Aircraft Owner City PARIS
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61944
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORTHERN HARVEST FURNITURE,INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 101 WEST END AVE
Operator City PARIS
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 61944
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code STL
Departure City ST. LOUIS
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1845
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3CM
Destination City BAY CITY
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --