Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dry Prong, Louisiana 71423
Sunday, October 22, 2006 16:48 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor was acting as pilot-in-command of the cross-country flight in the student pilot's airplane with the student and three passengers. The instructor related that the engine oil level prior to departure was 9 quarts, and that the oil on the dipstick was clean. While in cruise flight, the low oil pressure warning light flickered, and the oil pressure dropped. The instructor elected to continue the flight after a discussion with the student pilot, and after monitoring other engine gauges and determining that the engine was running smoothly. About 20 minutes later, the engine made a "slight clatter noise" and the instructor elected to divert to a closer airport. Shortly thereafter, there was a loud "bang" and the engine seized. A forced landing was made to a small pasture, during which the airplane collided with a fence and trees. Inspection of the airplane revealed no oil on the top of the cowling and windshield. Oil was found on the bottom of the cowling and in trail on the bottom of the fuselage. Examination of the engine disclosed evidence of internal catastrophic failure consistent with a lack of sufficient lubrication.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to oil starvation, resulting in an emergency off-airport forced landing. A factor associated with the accident was the instructor's improper in-flight decision in delaying to seek an emergency landing site following a loss of oil pressure indication.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/22/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1648
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Dry Prong
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71423
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 313632N
Event Location Longitude 0923644W
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 1653 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID AEX
Elevation of weather observation facility 89
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
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) 30.14
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21789
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 22 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2007 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baton Rouge FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N64GK
NTSB Number DFW07FA007
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-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32R7780327
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 63.5
Airframe Hours 3618.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jimmie Deramus
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Alexandria
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Alexandria
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PLK
Departure City Point Lookout
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AEX
Destination City Alexandria
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 31 2007 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
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 --