- Date
- August 31, 1993, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ottumwa, IA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8527MBeech P35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930831032279A
- Case key
- 9301
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
an oil leak in the oil filter adapter. A factor was landing in a crop field.
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
While in cruise flight, the airplane experienced a loss of oil pressure. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing at an airport in Ottumwa, Iowa; however, when he realized that the airplane would not make the airport, he elected to land in a crop field. A post-accident examination of the engine determined that there was a leak in the oil filter adapter gasket.
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1993, at 1100 central daylight time, a Beech P35, N8527M, registered to Darrell W. Allen of Independence, Missouri, and operated by an instrument rated private pilot, experienced a loss of oil pressure while in cruise flight. During a forced landing in a corn field one and one-half miles north of the Ottumwa Industrial Airport, Ottumwa, Iowa, the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Independence, Missouri, at 0955 with the intended destination of Amana, Iowa.
The pilot stated that when oil pressure went to zero (0), he attempted to fly to the airport. When he realized that he would not be able to make the airport, he elected to initiate a forced landing in a crop field.
An examination of the engine, by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed an oil leak from a seal in the oil filter adapter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8527M
- Reported as
- Beech P35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-7191
- Airframe hours
- 2,540
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-N, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Allen, Darrell W.
- Registered owner
- Allen, Darrell W.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1993 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- 31P · Independence, MO
- Destination
- C11 · Amana, IA
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
- 53
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,362 total · 1,140 in this make and model · 1,362 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OTM, 2 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.