Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pickrell, Nebraska 68422
Wednesday, September 8, 1999 21:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted terrain during a night forced landing after experiencing a loss of engine power. The pilot also stated that the engine was running so rough that it felt as if it had half a propeller and that he could not read the airspeed indicator or altimeter. He circled twice over an unlit gravel road and then touched down twice on the road before impacting a sign. The pilot stated that he made the landing with 15 degrees of flaps and not full flaps since it took two hands to fly the aircraft because of the vibration. Examination of the engine revealed that the engine oil dipstick guide tube was loose which resulted in a loss of engine oil.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loose oil dipstick guide tube resulting in loss of oil and the engine failure. The night condition was a contributing factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2140
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PICKRELL
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68422
Event Date Year 1999
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2209 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID BIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 1323
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 1642
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 15
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84385
NTSB Number CHI99LA333
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 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier 172K
Aircraft Serial Number 17258453
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARK CHASE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 701 MULDER DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City LINCOLN
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68510
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARK CHASE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 1 BOX 93
Operator City LARIMAR
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 50149
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 BIE
Departure City BEATRICE
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 2130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CEK
Destination City CRETE
Destination State NE
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:06AM
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 --