Sparta Community-Hunter Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sparta, Illinois 62286
Friday, May 31, 2002 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was substantially damaged when the gear collapsed during a forced landing due to a total loss of engine power. The airplane was directly over the Festus Memorial Airport (FES), Festus, Missouri when the engine started to run rough. The pilot decided to return to the Sparta Community-Hunter Field Airport (SAR), Sparta, Illinois, approximately 35 nautical miles (nm) from FES. The engine experienced a total loss of engine power approximately eight nm from SAR and the pilot executed an emergency landing on a wheat field. The number five cylinder was found to have separated from the engine. The last major overhaul on the engine was conducted on November 1, 1988 and the engine had accumulated 526 hours since the overhaul. The engine manufacturer recommends the engine be overhauled every 12 years even if the engine does not meet the time between overhaul hours.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power due to a separated cylinder and the failure of the pilot to perform a precautionary landing at the nearest suitable airport when the engine had a partial loss of engine power. The failure of the aircraft owners to perform an engine overhaul and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the emergency landing were contributing factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Sparta
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62286
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SPARTA COMMUNITY-HUNTER FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SAR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 8
Degrees magnetic from airport 280
Airport Elevation 538
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2227 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID SAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 538
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.83
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13156
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 5 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Springfield, Illinois- FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5360P
NTSB Number CHI02LA150
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-409
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 5 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2720
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Allen W. Brand
Aircraft Owner Street Address 524 Oexner Ln.
Aircraft Owner City Waterloo
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62298
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 SAR
Departure City Sparta
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2200
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code H79
Destination City Eldon
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 14 2003 8:58AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --