Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701
Wednesday, May 4, 1983 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOTS WERE PARTICIPATING IN A GRAND PRIX AIR RACE. AFTER A NORMAL PREFLIGHT, THEY TOOK OFF & CROSSED OVER THE ARPT FOR RACE TIMING PURPOSES. A CLIMB WAS BEGUN ON COURSE, AND A SHORT TIME LATER, THE ENGINE BEGAN LOOSING POWER. THE AIRCREW TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN QUIT. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT STOPPED ABRUPTLY. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED & PUNCTURED THE CRANKCASE. BEARING DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT THRU-OUT THE ENGINE REFLECTING LACK OF LUBRICATION. TWO MAGNETO DRIVE CUSHIONS WERE FOUND BLOCKING THE OIL SYS PICK-UP TUBE. THESE WERE IN ADDITION TO THE TWO WHICH WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE MAGNETO DRIVE SYS. AN OPENING BETWEEN THE ACCESSORY SECTION & THE OIL SUMP WOULD ALLOW THE CUSHIONS TO ENTER THE OIL SUMP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 47
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CAPE GIRARDEAU
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63701
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 5
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 555 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID CGI
Elevation of weather observation facility 342
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 296
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20644
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 N1996E
NTSB Number MKC83LA100
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17271113
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 25 1982 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 608
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONSOLIDATED OIL WELL SER.,INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 884
Aircraft Owner City CHANUTE
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66720
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 644
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CVG
Destination City CINCINNATI
Destination State OH
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 --