Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pacific Ocean
Tuesady, February 14, 1989 12:00

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE RIGHT ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST OIL PRESSURE. THE PILOT COULD SEE THAT OIL WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AREA. THE PILOT SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. DUE TO HIGH GROSS WEIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE ON THE REMAINING ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED IN THE OCEAN AND NOT RECOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE DUE TO UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OVERWEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRPLANE NECESSITATED BY OVERWATER FUEL REQUIREMENTS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/14/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone --
Event City PACIFIC OCEAN
Event State PACIFIC OCEAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 2
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 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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 222
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 1 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38540
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N41169
NTSB Number LAX89LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 3 1-8452009
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 1
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES R. FARNN GRAIN ELEV.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 637
Aircraft Owner City CARMI
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62821
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SOUTHERN CROSS AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City PAGO PAGO
Departure State PO
Departure Country
Departure Time 610
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ASNF
Destination City NORFOLK ISLAND
Destination State PO
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 --