- Date
- December 12, 1994, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Longmont, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N93290Commonwealth Rearwin 185
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941212041569A
- Case key
- 19321
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
Oil exhaustion and subsequent engine seizure due to a missing oil drain plug. Factors were the inadequate maintenance and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
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
While on the downwind leg, the engine 'sputtered' and the pilot immediately turned towards the runway. The engine then seized and the propeller stopped turning. Unable to glide to the airport, the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a depression and the landing gear was torn off. Post-accident examination disclosed the oil drain plug was missing and there was no evidence of oil in the crankcase. The engine had accumulated five hours time-in- service since undergoing a major overhaul.
Factual narrative
On December 12, 1994, approximately 1330 mountain standard time, N93290, a Commonwealth Rearwin 185, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Longmont, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The following is based on the pilot report. The pilot planned to practice touch and go landings. After takeoff and while on the downwind leg, the engine "sputtered" and he immediately turned towards the runway. The engine then seized and the propeller stopped turning. Unable to glide to the airport, the pilot made a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a depression and the landing gear was torn off.
After examining the airplane, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported the oil drain plug was missing and there was no evidence of oil in the crankcase. The engine had accumulated five hours time-in-service since undergoing a major overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93290
- Reported as
- Commonwealth Rearwin 185 (REARWIN 18)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1854
- Airframe hours
- 1,788
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Epp, Robert W.
- Registered owner
- Epp, Robert W./Shroyer, Jami
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 10, 1994 · 5 hours before
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,479 total · 1 in this make and model · 2,300 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
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 N93290 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.