- Date
- May 13, 1994, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place
- Belleair, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N114WWPiper J3C-65
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940513010749A
- Case key
- 37544
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
Improper maintenance inspection of the crankcase breather tube resulting in failure to detect blockage of the tube.
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 pilot observed engine oil leaking onto the windshield. He dropped the aerial advertising banner he was towing on to a golf course and then performed a precautionary landing on the golf course. During landing rollout the aircraft collided with two trees. Postcrash examination of the engine indicated the front crankshaft seal was partially dislodged and causing the oil leakage. The engine crankcase breather line was found partially blocked with oil sludge and debris. No other evidence of failure or malfunction was noted in the engine.
Factual narrative
On May 13, 1994, about 1210 eastern daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N114WW, registered to Thomas W. Merrifield, collided with trees during a precautionary landing on a golf course near Belleair, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 banner towing flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at St. Petersburg, Florida, on May 13, 1994, about.
The pilot stated that about 15 minutes after takeoff the engine began to lose oil. He released the banner and initiated a descent to land on a golf course with the windshield covered by oil. After touchdown he observed a ditch ahead and added power to clear it. He was then unable to stop before colliding with trees.
Postcrash examination of the engine by FAA inspectors indicated the engine front crankshaft seal was partially dislodged causing the oil leakage. The engine case breather line was found partially blocked by oil sludge and debris. No other evidence of failure or malfunction was noted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N114WW
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17908
- Airframe hours
- 8,660
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas W. Merrifield
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 9, 1994 · 90 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
- 41
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 4,500 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 4,400 as pilot in command · 331 in the last 90 days · 98 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SPG, 15 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.