- Date
- May 21, 1992, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Des Arc, AR
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7354ZPiper PA-25-260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920521015629A
- Case key
- 18500
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 power loss due to the failed exhaust stack resultant from inadequate maintenance inspection. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the landing and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.
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
After takeoff the pilot smelled smoke in the cockpit and shortly thereafter the engine began to lose power and run rough. The engine subsequently quit and the pilot attempted to make a forced landing in a soft, rough open field. The airplane landed hard and the gear collapsed. Investigation revealed that the left exhaust stack had separated, burned an engine wire bundle, and subjected the fuel strainer to high temperatures. The operator stated that the accident could have been prevented through closer inspection of the exhaust system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7354Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-3306
- Airframe hours
- 6,860
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-B2B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Mcconnaughhay, Kenneth W., doing business as Ken'S Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Mcconnaughhay, Kenneth W.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 14, 1992 · 306 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 8,000 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LIT, 20 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.
Other investigations on N7354Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.