Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Momence, Illinois 60954
Friday, November 17, 1989 19:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN NIGHT VFR CONDITIONS, OPERATING ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND THE PILOT NOTICED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. COCKPIT TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES AND ATC'S ATTEMPTS TO VECTOR THE AIRCRAFT TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY, AND THE PILOT MADE A NIGHT, GEAR-UP FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED CORN FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED OIL STREAKED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE TAIL SECTION. ENGINE INSPECTION/TEARDOWN REVEALED A HOLE IN THE CRANKCASE AT THE #3 CYLINDER, A HOLE IN THE #2 CYLINDER PISTON AT THE PISTON RINGS, AND VIRTUALLY NO USABLE OIL REMAINING IN THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF METAL DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE OIL SYSTEM, AND THE SIGNS OF OVERHEATING DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

GRADUAL TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWERPLANT DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY OPERATION, AND THE SUBSEQUENT GEAR-UP FORCED LANDING ON A FROZEN FIELD.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/17/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MOMENCE
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60954
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 11
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1950 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID MDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 619
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
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) 29
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) 2038
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 17 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1946
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41271
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1809W
NTSB Number CHI90LA039
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model V35B
Aircraft Series Identifier V35B
Aircraft Serial Number D-9422
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Unknown
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 24 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 4100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HANSEN, IRVIN & CONSTANCE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 311 OAKLAWN DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City PITTSBURGH
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15241
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AGL
Departure City PITTSBURG
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BNW
Destination City BOONE
Destination State IA
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 --