Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Livingston, Texas 77351
Friday, January 14, 2000 15:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While maneuvering at 2,500 feet msl during the aerial observation flight for spotting wildfires, a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot selected a field for the forced landing. Trees at the approach end of the landing area were estimated to be 120 feet high. While the pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid the last tree, the airplane impacted the ground hard. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The engine had accumulated 743.7 hours since the last overhaul. Examination of the Continental O-200-A engine revealed that the #1 cylinder exhaust valve head separated from the valve stem. Impact marks on the piston head were consistent with the valve head penetrating the piston. Damage to the exhaust valve precluded a determination of the cause of the valve failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power resulting from an exhaust valve failure. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/14/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LIVINGSTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77351
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 1
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 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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 64
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 1:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6691F
NTSB Number FTW00TA065
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 150F
Aircraft Series Identifier 150F
Aircraft Serial Number 15063291
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 103
Airframe Hours 4730
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LELAND R. PRIESTLY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5655 TERRY CRAWFORD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City NACOGDOCHES
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75964
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR1 BOX 250
Operator City JACKSONVILLE
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75766
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 00R
Departure City
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 --