Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Southampton, New Jersey 08088
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 8:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While applying liquid fungicide to a cranberry bog the airplane passed over a road at 800 feet msl, the pilot heard a "loud bang," quickly followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot then maneuvered to place the airplane in a position for a forced landing. After dumping his load of fungicide and clearing some trees, the airplane touched down in a furrowed cornfield and was substantially damaged. An examination of the engine revealed internal damage including galling of a bearing and crankshaft bearing surface. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector the galling was indicative of a "lack of lubrication," however; no mechanical malfunction, leak, or blockage of the lubrication system was reported by the inspector.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A lack of lubrication for undetermined reasons which resulted in the failure of the Nos. 4 and 5 connecting rods, and a subsequent total loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the furrowed cornfield.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/15/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Southampton
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08088
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395312N
Event Location Longitude 0744056W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 755 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 5
Weather Observation Facility ID WRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 131
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.62
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19737
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2006 1:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Philadelphia, PA.

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4754Y
NTSB Number IAD05LA077
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-25-260
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25-4508
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 4201
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Wings Aerial Applicators LLC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 562 Ongs Hat Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Southampton
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08088
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 W7PG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3N7
Departure City Pemberton
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 725
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3N7
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering - aerial application
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 19 2006 7:04PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --