- Date
- July 5, 1987, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Window Rock, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N68WKKiesel Midget Mustang
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870705032279A
- Case key
- 25311
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
The aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff and collided with a dirt bank during the subsequent forced landing. Engineexamination revealed an open intake valve on the number 4 cylinder and the pilot stated a 'bent and cracked crankshaft from a prior accident' was discovered during the engine examination. The engine manufacturer stated that an open intake valve could induce significant power loss by allowing exhaust gasses to pressurize the intake manifold, thereby alteringthe fuel/air mixture. The maintenance records established that the aircraft had flown only nine hours since the last condition inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N68WK
- Reported as
- Kiesel Midget Mustang (MIDGET MUS)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 711
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John W Hutchison
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 29, 1987 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- P34
- Destination
- P34
- Airport
- P34 · Window Rock, runway 2, 7,000 × 80 ft, macadam
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,517 total · 8 in this make and model · 1,398 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GUI, 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.