- Date
- March 22, 1990, 19:00 local (Mar 23, 1990, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Monee, IL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4490XPiper PA-28R-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900322005029A
- Case key
- 14647
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
Engine failure due to oil starvation resulting from improper maintenance and directive compliance associated with the failed part.
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
Instructor pilot and private pilot rated student were on an instrument cross country training flight. Pilot experienced engine RPM surge over red line, followed immediately by smoke in cockpit, and oil streaming over windshield. Pilot reduced power, declared emergency, and ATC provided wind steer to nearest airport. Engine seized before pilot made airport. Pilot executed forced landing in soft farmer's field. All landing gear collapsed on rollout. Aircraft substantially damaged, both piots received minor injuries. Investigation revealed prop governor oil line fractured at forward attachment nut, and broken forward oil line support clamp. Aft oil line support clamp was missing. Maintenance records indicate airworthiness directive pertaining toinstallation and end fittings of prop governor oil line complied with 14 flight hours before mishap.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4490X
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-7635057
- Airframe hours
- 4,288
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Griffith Aviation, doing business as Griffith Aviation
- Registered owner
- Great Northern Aircraft Sales
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 14, 1990 · 14 hours before
- Departed
- 05C · Griffith, IN
- Destination
- IND · Indianapolis, IN
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 37
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,495 total · 198 in this make and model · 1,363 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GYY, 10 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.