- Date
- April 1, 1993, 15:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place
- Breckenridge, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N68HPChance Vought F4U-4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 10, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930401007519A
- Case key
- 18647
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing
Analysis
The pilot of the wwii vintage military airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power while climbing through 5,000 feet. The preselected forced landing area was beyond the gliding capabilities of the airplane, so the pilot elected to land straight ahead in a rough and uneven field. The fuselage was severed aft of the pilot's seat and both wings and the underside of the airplane were severely damaged. Examination of the engine failed to disclose any anomalies that could have prevented normal engine operation
Factual narrative
On April 1, 1993, at approximately 1540 central standard time, a Chance Vought F4U 4 airplane, N68HP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following the loss of engine power, near Breckenridge, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
According to the pilot, nearly an hour after his departure, the airplane was climbing through 5,000 feet, when without warning, the engine loss power. The pilot stated that he selected a suitable forced landing area as he established the best glide speed and completed the emergency procedures in an attempt to regain power.
The preselected forced landing area was beyond the reach of the airplane, so the pilot elected to land straight ahead in an open field. After impacting small trees, the airplane impacted in rough and uneven terrain, went through a fence post and a fence, crossed a two lane highway, coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway, with the right wing partially blocking the right lane.
The fuselage was severed just aft of the pilot's seat. Additionally, the underside of the fuselage and both wings were heavily damaged.
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
- N68HP
- Reported as
- Chance Vought F4U-4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 97302
- Airframe hours
- 2,345
- Engine
- P&W R-2800-18W, 2,400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pardue, Howard E., doing business as Breckenridge Avn. Museum
- Registered owner
- Pardue, Howard E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1993 · 35 hours before
- Destination
- BKD
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10,700 total · 670 in this make and model · 80 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABI, 48 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.