- Date
- February 23, 1992, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N39JHRyan Navion A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920223003339A
- Case key
- 18445
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 propeller hydraulic control pitch setting being incorrect for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to identify and correct the pitch setting as the propeller went to a higher setting.
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
According to the pilot, he lifted off the 1,800 foot soft sod runway after an 800 foot ground roll and as the airplane passed over the fence, he noticed the climb deteriorating. A scan of the instruments indicated the tachometer indicating 2,100 RPM versus the 2,500 RPM that would have been normal for takeoff. The airplane subsequently crossed a river and impacted the opposite bank. Two of the passengers stated that they thought the pilot had used most of the runway during the takeoff roll. Post-accident investigation revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure or malfunction. Tear down of the propeller indicated that the blades were at a pitch setting of about 20.5 degrees instead of the 12.5 degrees pitch which was normal for takeoff and climb. No explanation for the higher pitch setting was found during the investigation. A computer simulation of the accident scenario indicated that the blade angle would have been about 18.5 degrees for the conditions and power described by the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39JH
- Reported as
- Ryan Navion A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- NAV-4-1985
- Airframe hours
- 1,863
- Engine
- Continental E-185-9, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hopcus, Jerry A.
- Registered owner
- Hopcus, Jerry A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 20, 1992 · 4 hours before
- Airport
- NONE · Hopcus Farms, runway 35, 1,800 × 80 ft, grass/turf
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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 103 total · 77 in this make and model · 18 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TIK, 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.