# NTSB FTW81IA057: Douglas DC3A, N101CA, Midland, TX, March 26, 1981

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 26, 1981
- Place: Midland, TX · MIDLAND, TX
- Location: 31.9973° N, 102.0779° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Midland, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9973&lon=-102.0779&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126598
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81IA057
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81IA057

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0018  81/3/26    MIDLAND,TX          DOUGLAS DC3A        CR-  0  0  3  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0330                    N101CA              PX-  0  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      40, 3666 TOTAL HOURS, 558
                                       DAMAGE-NONE         OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO S-D        IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MIDLAND AIRPARK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIDLAND,TX                  LUBBOCK,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
        REMARKS- MECHANIC RPRTD MASTER ROD BEARING FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N101CA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC3A
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Airport: Midland Airpark

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19810326014769I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810326014769I), Mar 26, 1981: Doug DC3AS4C4G, Midland, TX, Minor damage. Oil pressure was lost and tower saw fire on right engine. Pilot shut down engine and returned for landing.

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.

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