Excelsior Spgs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Excelsor Sprgs, Missouri 64024
Tuesady, July 4, 1989 5:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT HAD DEPARTED THE DUPAGE ARPT, CHICAGO, IL ENROUTE TO KANSAS CITY DTWN ARPT. DURING DESCENT FROM CRZ ALTITUDE THE PLT SAID OIL COVERED THE WINDSCREEN AND ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A NIGHT FORCED LANDING AT AN AIRPORT LOCATED ABOUT 45 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE DESTINATION. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT WAS LOST DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE ACFT CAREENED OFF THE HARD SURFACED RWY INTO ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN WHICH TORE A WING FROM ITS ATTACH POINT. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ACFT AND ITS RECORDS SHOWED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSPECTED AND WAS NOT AIRWORTHY FOR THIS FLIGHT. THE ENGINE FAILED IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A FAILURE INDICATIVE OF A CONNECTING ROD, ROD END OR ROD BOLT FAILURE WITH A RESULTANT HOLE IN THE ENGINE CASE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL. IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTED VISIBILITY DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSCREEN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 500
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City EXCELSOR SPRGS
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64024
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EXCELSIOR SPGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3EX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 997
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 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) 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 Calm
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) 1209
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 4 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39418
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:52PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4175R
NTSB Number MKC89LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32-40498
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 11 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 4899
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name B.L. SCHOOLEY JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1020 S. 11TH AVE.
Aircraft Owner City ST CHARLES
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60174
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID E. GARDNER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1790 CUMBERLAND 416
Operator City ST. CHARLES
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60174
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 DPA
Departure City CHICAGO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MKC
Destination City KANSAS CITY
Destination State MO
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 19
Runway Length 2005
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --