# NTSB CHI99LA319: Van Grouw White Lightning, N25WL, Greenfield, IN, September 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1999, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Greenfield, IN - Coordinates: 39.79021, -85.769683 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7902&lon=-85.7697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47248 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA319 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47248/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA319 ## Probable cause improper installation of the oil quick drain plug which resulted in oil exhaustion to the engine. A factor was the corn crop encountered during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - lubricating system,oil quickdrain/drain plug - missing - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the airplane on the first flight after an annual inspection to assure the airplane was operating properly. He reported the engine began losing power during the flight. Unable to maintain altitude the pilot made a forced landing in a corn field. Post accident inspection revealed the quick drain oil plug in the bottom of the oil sump was missing and oil exhaustion had occurred. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1999, at 1100 central standard time (cst), a Van Grouw White Lightning, N25WL, collided with a corn crop during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The forced landing was made in Greenfield, Indiana. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Mt. Comfort Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana, at 1020 cst. The pilot reported that this was the first flight after having had the annual inspection on the airplane completed. He reported he departed the Mt. Comfort Airport and climbed to an altitude of 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl) over the airport. He continued to circle at this altitude for approximately 30 minutes while he checking that the airplane was functioning properly. He reported he then descended and cross the runway 25 localizer outbound to check the localizer operation. The pilot reported that after passing over the outer marker at 2,700 feet msl the engine began to lose power. He turned back toward the airport, but was unable to maintain altitude so he selected a field in which to land. The pilot reported that he believes the engine was still running when he touched down. Inspection of the airplane by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Indianapolis, Indiana, Flight Standards District Office revealed the engine, propeller, and both wings were damaged during the forced landing. The inspector reported that the screw in oil plug in the bottom of the oil sump was missing and the engine had suffered from oil exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25WL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25WL), registered now, S/N 25, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VAN GROUW WHITE LIGHTNING (WHITE LIGH) - Registry model: [Van Grouw R / Cantrell L WHITE LIGHTNING](https://openairdocs.org/model/van-grouw-r-cantrell-l-white-lightning) (registry code 05618L4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 215 - Airframe hours: 778 - Engines: Continental IO-360-G2 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Will W. Mathews - Registered owner: Jackson Fields And Matthews - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 1999, 1 hours before - Departed: MQJ, INDIANAPOLIS, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,494 total, 154 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19990906026089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990906026089A), Sep 6, 1999: Amtr WHTLIGHTING, Greenfield, IN, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 6, 1999, at 1100 central standard time (CST), a van grouw white lightning, N25WL, collided with a corn crop during a forced landing… ## Other investigations on N25WL (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 WPR23LA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA304), Aug 6, 2023: Van Grouw R / Cantrell L White Lightning (N25WL), Las Vegas, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: A reported partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons. 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.