Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alexandria, South Dakota 57311
Saturday, November 24, 1984 3:18 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLT HE HEARD A FAINT KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE REDUCED POWER AND CALLED FSS. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE PLT REDUCED POWER FURTHER AND THE ACFT STARTED TO DESCEND FROM 6500 FT MSL. THE WINDSHIELD BECAME OIL COVERED AND THE COCKPIT SOMEWHAT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE PLT CIRCLED A LARGE FIELD AND UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT #3 ROD FROZE TO THE CRANKSHAFT. THE LUBRICATING SYSTEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN FUNCTIONING IN A NORMAL MANNER. THE LAST 100 INSPECTION WAS ON 7/1/84 AT 4139 HOURS TOTAL ACFT TIME. NO LOGBOOK ENTRIES INDICATED ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. THE PLT SAID THAT THE OIL TEMPERATURE GAGE INDICATED ALMOST IN THE RED AND THE OIL ALWAYS APPEARED EXTREMELY BLACK (ON PRE-FLT).

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/24/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 318
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ALEXANDRIA
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57311
Event Date Year 1984
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 --
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 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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1300
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) 2193
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26113
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43530
NTSB Number DEN85LA032
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4229
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name M&B FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City SHELDON
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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
Departure City SHELDON
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 230
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RAP
Destination City RAPID CITY
Destination State SD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --