Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ocala, Florida 34479
Monday, October 27, 2003 16:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot the engine lost oil pressure, and seized, at 2000 feet. The pilot notified ATC and was given a heading to the nearest airport. The pilot reported he could not make to the original airport, and was given a heading to a private airport, 4 to 5 miles closer. The pilot realized he was not going to make to the airport, and elected to land in a pasture. The pilot avoided power lines by flying under them, and while clearing a fence, the tail of the airplane struck the fence, impacted in a field, skidded until impacting another fence, and came to a stop. Examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase near the number 4 cylinder, the number 4 connecting rod partially protruded the hole, and showed signs of heat distress. Internal examination of the engine showed high heat distress due to lack of lubrication. The oil pump was found intact and the oil passages were clear. The source of the loss of lubrication could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power due to oil starvation for undetermined reasons, resulting in an in-flight collision with a fence during a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/27/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Ocala
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34479
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 291600N
Event Location Longitude 0820700W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1615 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID KOCF
Elevation of weather observation facility 89
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.8
Density Altitude (feet) 1764
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15363
NTSB Notification Source FAA SE Reg Com Ctr.
NTSB Notification Date Oct 27 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1950
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4103H
NTSB Number MIA04LA013
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 Mooney
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0618
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Jul 11 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 3600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Terry L. Jernigan
Aircraft Owner Street Address 413 Spring Valley Ln.
Aircraft Owner City Altamonte Springs
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32714
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 1A5
Departure City FRANKLIN
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORL
Destination City ORLANDO
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 Mar 9 2004 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --