# NTSB CHI04LA262: Navion Navion G, N2453T, Knox, IN, September 20, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 2004, 20:00 local (Sep 20, 2004, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Knox, IN - Coordinates: 41.330276, -86.664718 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3303&lon=-86.6647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60171/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA262 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident were the unsuitable terrain encountered, the dark night conditions, and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a ditch during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on an approach. The pilot stated, "I was flying home from a diner in Michigan City. Just as I was approaching [Starke County Airport] it felt like I hit a curb in a car. The plane shifted to the right. The engine [was] quiet. All the engine lights came on, I tried to add power but it was dead. I lowered the gear and focused on flying the plane without power. I did not use flaps thinking I could glide farther. I set her down on her wheels and rolled into the ditch at the end of the field." The sheriff's report stated that two witnesses "saw the plane coming in slow and did not hear the motor running and saw the plane set down in a field and then go into the ditch." Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and local wind was 090 degrees at 03 knots. The pilot reported that there was 35 gallons of fuel left in the airplane. On-scene examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The engine was test run and it produced rated power. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 19, 2004, about 2000 eastern standard time, a Navion airplane Navion G model, N2453T, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a ditch during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on approach to Starke County Airport (OXI), near Knox, Indiana. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was hospitalized for minor injuries. The flight departed from Michigan City Municipal Airport, near Michigan City, Indiana, at time unknown. The pilot's accident report stated: I was flying home from a diner in Michigan City. Just as I was approaching OXI it felt like I hit a curb in a car. The plane shifted to the right. The engine [was] quiet. All the engine lights came on, I tried to add power but it was dead. I lowered the gear and focused on flying the plane without power. I did not use flaps thinking I could glide farther. I set her down on her wheels and rolled into the ditch at the end of the field. The Starke County Sheriff's report stated that two witnesses "saw the plane coming in slow and did not hear the motor running and saw the plane set down in a field and then go into the ditch." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot reported that his last medical examination was completed on February 28, 2004 and that he was issued a third-class medical certificate with no restrictions. The pilot reported that he had a total time of 1,323 hours, of which 800 hours were in this make and model of airplane. The pilot stated that he had flown 15.8 hours during the last 90 days, 7.6 hours during the last 30 days, 1.3 hours in the last 24 hours, and 111 hours of night flight time. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION N2453T was a 1962 Navion airplane Navion G model, serial number NAV-4-2453. The Navion G was a single-engine all-metal airplane of semimonocoque construction and was equipped with retractable landing gear, wing flaps, and a constant speed propeller. A 260 horsepower Continental IO-470-H (1B) engine, serial number CS87327-R, powered the airplane. The Navion G can be configured to accommodate up to five occupants, of which includes two pilot stations. The last annual inspection was performed on January 6, 2004. Maintenance logbook entries showed the airplane had accumulated 4,084.53 hours total time and the engine had accumulated 442.0 hours since top overhaul as of the annual inspection. The engine had accumulated 456.6 hours since top overhaul as of the date of the accident. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1953, the recorded weather at Porter County Municipal Airport, near Valparaiso, Indiana, was: Wind 090 degrees at 03 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 17 degrees C; dew point 11 degrees C; altimeter 30.32 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The Starke County Sheriff's report stated that the airplane came to rest in a ditch on the North side of Route 250. The report stated that the airplane was "down in the bean field for [approximately] 75 yards before going into the ditch." The pilot reported that there was 35 gallons of fuel left in the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. No pre-impact anomalies were detected. TESTS AND RESEARCH The engine was shipped to Teledyne Continental Motors for an operational test run. The engine's throttle body casting was found separated from its mounting flange. The metering unit attached to that casting was removed and was mounted on a serviceable casting. The engine's Y-shaped intake manifold and number one cylinder's intake manifold were damaged and were replaced with serviceable manifold parts. The engine was test run and produced rated power. The engine's throttle was advanced rapidly and the engine accelerated to rated power. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The engine was shipped back to OXI and the wreckage was released to a representative of the insurance company. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2453T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2453T), registered now, S/N NAV-4-2453, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Navion Navion G - Registry model: [Navion NAVION G](https://openairdocs.org/model/navion-navion-g) (registry code 6150120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: NAV-4-2453 - Airframe hours: 4099.1 - Engines: Continental IO-470-H 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Anthony Kielas - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2004, 14.6 hours before - Departed: MGC, MICHIGAN CITY, IN - Destination: OXI, Knox, IN - Airport: OXI, Starke County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 29, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,323 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,323 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 90° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: VPZ, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040919026049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040919026049A), Sep 19, 2004: Tmpson NAVIONG, Knox, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was on approach to koxi from plymouth mi. At approximately 20:00 and 2,000 ft. altitude, pilot felt sideways jolt and noticed lights came on EGT… ## Other investigations on N2453T (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA74FYC27](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74FYC27), Dec 5, 1973: Navion G (N2453T), Salem, OR, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.