Panama City-Bay County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wewahitchka, Florida 32465
Tuesady, November 21, 2000 9:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot smelled something, and when he checked the instruments he noticed that the oil pressure had decreased. He elected to make a force landing in rough terrain. At touchdown the landing gear tore off causing damage to the wings. Examination of the engine revealed that the number 5 cylinder connecting rod had separated at the rod cap.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power due to the number 5 cylinder connecting rod separating at the rod cap, resulting in a forced landing and subsequent impact with rough uneven terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/21/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Wewahitchka
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32465
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301000N
Event Location Longitude 0851400W
Event Location Airport Panama City-Bay County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PFN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 30
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 21
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1030 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID PFN
Elevation of weather observation facility 21
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.5
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11308
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 21 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2002 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office BIRMINGHAM FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9658C
NTSB Number MIA01LA032
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32RT-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-785064
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRADY AND FRANCIS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2815 N ORANGE BLOSSOM TRL.
Aircraft Owner City ORLANDO
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32804
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 ORL
Departure City ORLANDO
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PFN
Destination City PANAMA CITY
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2001 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record PREJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --