- Date
- September 3, 1991, 09:53 local (17:53 UTC)
- Place
- Dillingham, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9438FCessna 208
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19910903037789A
- Case key
- 5490
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inattentive preflight inspection which resulted in his failure to properly secure the engine oil tube filler cap resulting in the loss of engine oil and oil pressure and the pilot's failure to properly compensate for wind conditions during the forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the engine failure and subsequent forced landing on soft terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot in command performed a preflight and checked the oil by removing the dip stick/oil filler cap. After 10 to 15 minutes of flight time, the pilot noticed a decrease in the torque indication and engine oil pressure. He elected to return to Dillingham and enroute the engine lost more oil pressure and 'coughed' twice and the pilot feathered the propeller and landed on the tundra. Upon landing the airplane nosed over. The on site inspection showed that the left, lower side of the fuselage was covered with oil and the oil dip stick/filler cap was not installed in the filler neck. It was resting on the inside of the upper cowling because the airplane was upside down. The brief shows that the pilot was the holder of an airline transport pilot certificate because the computer database program will not accept a commercial pilot rating while showing a scheduled 14 CFR 135, passenger/cargo type of operation. The pilot is only the holder of a commercial pilot certificate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9438F
- Reported as
- Cessna 208
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 00053
- Airframe hours
- 4,080
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-114, 600 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Markair Express Inc.
- Registered owner
- Markair Express Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · August 4, 1991 · 54 hours before
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,222 total · 400 in this make and model · 1,896 as pilot in command · 341 in the last 90 days · 129 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9438F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.