- Date
- December 26, 1992, 11:41 local (19:41 UTC)
- Place
- Livermore, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5001Curtiss JN-4D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 27892
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 shearing of the number 8 cylinder rocker arm support pedestal/coolant housing retaining bolts. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine coolant.
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
Following take off from a private airstrip, the engine began to loose power at about 50 feet AGL. The airplane began to loose altitude and airspeed. The pilot began a left turn to an open field. The airplane continued in the left turn toward the pilots residence. To avoid hitting the house, the pilot intentionally skidded the airplane to the left, striking the ground in front of the residence. An examination of the engine revealed two bolts that retain the rocker arm support pedestal and engine coolant housing had sheared. Engine coolant sprayed onto the right side spark plug leads and right side of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5001
- Reported as
- Curtiss JN-4D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5002
- Airframe hours
- 580
- Engine
- Curtis Wright OX5, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James M. Nissen
- Registered owner
- James M. Nissen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 29, 1992 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- 23Q
- Airport
- 23Q · Meadowlark Field
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
- 77
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 7,138 total · 500 in this make and model · 6,500 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F