Mc Mahon Wrinkle Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Spring, Texas 79721
Monday, October 14, 1991 18:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A DUSK DEPARTURE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN INTERNAL MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS LESS THAN THREE HUNDRED FEET AND TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR LANDING WAS UNSUITABLE. THE PILOT LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE ONLY CLEARING AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE WING STUCK A TREE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FAILED PISTON ROD. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/14/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BIG SPRING
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79721
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 MC MAHON WRINKLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 21XS
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 2572
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1600
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1557
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45405
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9755E
NTSB Number FTW92LA008
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-31
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-31
Aircraft Serial Number 76-31121
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 Feb 19 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 194
Airframe Hours 1200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS C. MILLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 130
Aircraft Owner City STANTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79782
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS C. MILLER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 130
Operator City STANTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 79782
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1812
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KMAF
Destination City MIDLAND
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 35
Runway Length 8803
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --