Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alamosa, Colorado 81101
Monday, April 3, 1989 9:40 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING FLT AT 16,000 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER & BEGAN VIBRATING. THE PLT CONTACTED ARTCC & ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING AT THE ALAMOSA ARPT. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE ARPT & SELECTED A FIELD ABOUT 1 MI AWAY.DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT ENCTRD SVRL IRRIGATION DITCHES & THE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ENG CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED AT THE #2 & #3 JOURNALS. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE #2 PIN HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE, THEN THE #3 PIN FAILED FROM OVERLOAD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE TERRAIN CONDITION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/3/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 940
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ALAMOSA
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81101
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
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 Not pertinent
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 14000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
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) 1389
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 3 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39689
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48DL
NTSB Number DEN89LA098
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-8231025
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 3 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 126
Airframe Hours 1314
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEAN P LYONS, M.D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 610-06 N 4TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City BURLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LYONS, DEAN P.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2500 CHARETTE LANE
Operator City BURLINGTON
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 52601
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 APA
Departure City ENGLEWOOD
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FMN
Destination City FARMINGTON
Destination State NM
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 --