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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 18, 1987 · Beech 35 · N3204V

Excelsior Spgs, MO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 1987
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Excelsior Spgs, MO
Aircraft
Beech 35
Tail Number
N3204V
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC87FA163

According to witnesses, the pilot declared an emergency over the radio stating that the engine was losing power and that she was attempting an emergency landing at Excelsior Springs Airport. The pilot stated that she initiated a go-around, after the runway was assured, due to the incursion of another aircraft backtracking on the runway, directly in her path. Other witnesses stated that the aircraft either bounced off the runway surface or attempted a low pass at a slow airspeed. It then veered left from over the runway, dragging the left wing tip over high vegetation; the aircraft then impacted the cultivated soil, cartwheel fashion. Evidence was found to suggest a powerplant failure due to oil starvation. The engine sump showed that the oil quick-drain fitting was locked in the open position. The engine had undergone an oil change just prior to the accident flight. An engine teardown at the manufacturer's facilities revealed that a catastrophic failure had occurred due to a lack of internal engine component lubrication.

Full Narrative

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY OVER THE RADIO STATING THAT THE ENG WAS LOSING POWER AND THAT SHE WAS ATTEMPTING AN EMERG LNDG AT EXCELSIOR SPRINGS ARPT. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, AFTER THE RWY WAS ASSURED, DUE TO THE INCURSION OF ANOTHER ACFT BACKTRACKING ON THE RWY, DIRECTLY IN HER PATH. OTHER WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT, EITHER BOUNCED OFF THE RWY SURFACE, OR ATTEMPTED A LOW PASS AT A SLOW AIRSPEED. IT THEN VEERED LEFT FROM OVER THE RWY, DRAGGING THE LEFT WING TIP OVER HIGH VEGETATION; THE ACFT THEN IMPACTED THE CULTIVATED SOIL, CARTWHEEL FASHION. EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO SUGGEST A POWERPLANT FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION. THE ENGINE SUMP SHOWED THAT THE OIL QUICK-DRAIN FITTING WAS LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE ENG HAD UNDERGONE AN OIL CHANGE JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. AN ENG TEARDOWN AT THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITIES REVEALED THAT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DUE TO A LACK OF INTERNAL ENG COMPONENT LUBRICATION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:30 CDT
Nearest AirportExcelsior Spring Mem. (0nm N)
Runway19
Runway Length2005 ft
Runway Width48 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 35
Tail NumberN3204V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E-225-8 · Reciprocating · 225
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 38 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data