- Date
- May 15, 1982, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Madera, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N40445Martin 404
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 15, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820515015909A
- Case key
- 71529
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 aircraft was observed to trail a brown substance. About 3 miles from the airport the right engine oil pressure dropped. The pilot decided to return to the airport. When he thought the runway was attainable he lowered the flaps; however, a loss of power in the left engine occurred and a landing was made in a wheat field. Investigation revealed failure of the front master rod bearing in the right engine. The aircraft had not been flown for five years prior to this flight and evidence of oil starvation was apparent in both engines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40445
- Reported as
- Martin 404
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14230
- Airframe hours
- 43,000
- Engine
- P&W R-2800-CB3, 2,400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Clayton V. Curtis
- Registered owner
- Clayton V. Curtis
- Departed
- MAE · Madera, CA
- Destination
- Casper, WY
- Airport
- MAE · Madera, runway 30, 4,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 38
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 9,205 total · 8,810 as pilot in command · 91 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 167 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FAT, 19 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.