Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

O'neill, Nebraska 68763
Friday, October 19, 2007 15:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane contacted a fence and nosed over following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The airplane was taken to a mechanic to have repairs and an annual inspection. Prior to the annual inspection being done the pilot decided to pick up the airplane. The mechanic had not reinstalled the oil filter, nor did he have a chance to run-up the engine prior to the pilot picking up the airplane. The mechanic was not present when he returned to pick up the airplane. Shortly after takeoff at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, the engine began to lose power. The pilot was attempting to land in a pasture when the airplane contacted a fence and nosed over. Post accident inspection revealed the engine suffered from oil starvation and that the oil filter was not installed on the engine. A trail of oil was present from where the airplane was parked all the way to the runway. The mechanic had not signed the airplane off as being returned to service. The last annual inspection performed on the airplane was in June 2004.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to assure the oil filter was installed on the airplane which resulted in oil starvation. Factors associated with the accident were the mechanic not installing the oil filter, the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred, and the fence which the airplane contacted.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/19/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City O'Neill
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68763
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422811N
Event Location Longitude 0984117W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
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
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ONL
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.64
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) 22779
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 22 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2007 6:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Lincoln, NE FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N48862
NTSB Number CHI08CA025
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15281011
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Claus C. Knuth
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Royal
Aircraft Owner State NE
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? 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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ONL
Departure City O'Neill
Departure State NE
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Royal
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2007 2:29PM
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 --