- Date
- November 12, 2006, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Pocasset, OK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N711ABeech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 26, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20061112030779A
- Case key
- 64851
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The "abnormally high" oil temperature indication and smoke in the cabin for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing.
Analysis
While on a local pleasure flight, the 4,942-hour private pilot observed an "abnormally high" oil temperature indication before smoke began to come from beneath the instrument panel. The pilot elected to shut the engine down and perform a precautionary landing to a soft and hilly field. During landing, the left wing tip impacted the ground and the nose landing gear was sheared off. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. There was no fire. Examination of the airplane did not reveal the source of the smoke or the reason for the "abnormally high" oil temperature indication.
Factual narrative
The factual narrative402 words
On November 12, 2006, about 1445 central standard time, a single-engine Beech A36 airplane, N711A, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing following an observation of a high engine oil temperature indication and smoke in the cockpit, while in cruise flight near Pocasset, Oklahoma. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Chickasha Municipal Airport (CHK), near Chickasha, Oklahoma, approximately 1435.
According to the 4,492-hour pilot, while on a local pleasure flight, he observed an "abnormally high" oil temperature indication before smoke began to come from beneath the instrument panel. The pilot elected to shut the engine down and perform a precautionary landing to a soft and hilly field. During precautionary landing, the left wing tip collided withe the ground and the nose landing gear was sheared-off. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. There was no fire.
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane's right wing and the engine firewall sustained structural damage. The inspector further reported that he had examined the airplane and could not find the source of the smoke.
A NTSB representative examined the airplane at a later date. The engine nacelle area and engine exterior was found clean with no obvious oil leaks. The oil dipstick was removed and indicated clean oil in the oil sump. The cabin heater valve and defrost knobs were found in the "ON" position. The heater shroud was removed and the muffler visually examined. No defects were noted. The instrument access panel, located in the firewall, was removed and the area behind the instrument panel was visually examined via a flashlight and mirror. The electrical wiring did not appear damaged and there were no signs of electrical arcing or fire. The area around the landing gear motor was also examined and no abnormalities were noted. The examination did not reveal the source of the smoke or the reason for the "abnormally high" oil temperature indication.
The pilot further reported that at the time of departure the wind was from 170 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N711A
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-1428
- Airframe hours
- 1,966
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental IO-520B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Green and Green
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2005
- Departed
- CHK · Chickasha, OK
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
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 1, 2005
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,942 total · 1,166 in this make and model · 4,942 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.