Window Rock Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Window Rock, Arizona 86515
Sunday, July 5, 1987 9:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING. ENGINEEXAMINATION REVEALED AN OPEN INTAKE VALVE ON THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER AND THE PILOT STATED A 'BENT AND CRACKED CRANKSHAFT FROM A PRIOR ACCIDENT' WAS DISCOVERED DURING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN OPEN INTAKE VALVE COULD INDUCE SIGNIFICANT POWER LOSS BY ALLOWING EXHAUST GASSES TO PRESSURIZE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THEREBY ALTERINGTHE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE. THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS ESTABLISHED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN ONLY NINE HOURS SINCE THE LAST CONDITION INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City WINDOW ROCK
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86515
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WINDOW ROCK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID P34
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 6737
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 900 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID GUI
Elevation of weather observation facility 6469
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8700
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1564
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34960
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N68WK
NTSB Number LAX87DUJ07
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 KIESEL
Aircraft Model MIDGET MUSTANG
Aircraft Series Identifier MIDGET MUS
Aircraft Serial Number 711
Certified Max Gross Weight 937
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 29 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN W HUTCHISON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1677
Aircraft Owner City WINDOW ROCK
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86515
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
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code P34
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 920
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code P34
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 2
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --