# NTSB LAX84LA158: Beech J35, N8299D, Coalinga, CA, January 29, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 1984, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Coalinga, CA
- Coordinates: 36.189155, -120.38945 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1892&lon=-120.3894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24154/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA158

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - lubricating system - worn (cause)
  - lubricating system - loose (cause)
  - fluid,oil - leak (cause)
  - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - overtemperature (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE CRUISING AT 8,500 FT MSL,THE PLT NOTICED A LOSS OF ALL OIL PRESSURE. HE SECURED THE ENG, LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR & WING FLAPS, & DECLARED AN EMERGENCY STATING HE WOULD ATTEMPT AN ENG OUT LANDING AT HARRIS RANCH ARPT. WHILE DESCENDINGTHROUGH 1,000 FT MSL, HE REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT REACH THE ARPT & RETRACTED THE FLAPS. THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN A SOFT PLOWED FIELD 1/4 MI SHORT OF THE RWY. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LEAK IN THE ENG & THE BOTTOM OF THE ACFT WAS COVERED WITH OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENG & THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE CRANKCASE CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE #6 CONROD. THE OTHER CONRODS WERE OVERHEATED. THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER WAS SAFETIED BUT VERY LOOSE. THE INTERNAL & EXTERNAL THREADS WERE BADLY WORN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8299D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH J35
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D5381
- Airframe hours: 5040
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas L. Ellington
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1983, 79 hours before
- Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA
- Destination: HWD, HAYWARD, CA
- Airport: 308, Harris Ranch, runway 32, 2,820 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,668 total, 397 in this make and model, 1,669 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NLC, 14 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840129001649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840129001649A), Jan 29, 1984: Beech J35, Coalinga, CA, Destroyed. Oil filter came loose allowing engine to lose oil. Crash occurred during emergency landing.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.