# NTSB MKC84FA010: Convair 340, N30DR, St. Louis, MO, October 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1983, 07:52 local (12:52 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.629306, -90.19065 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6293&lon=-90.1907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33500
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC84FA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33500/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84FA010

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - engine assembly,master rod - failure,total (cause)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - wrong engine shutdown - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - engine assembly - jammed
  - aircraft performance,two or more engines - inoperative
- Forced landing, landing
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - approach light/navaid (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

WHILE IN A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCREW ENCOUNTERED AN ENG PROBLEM (WHICH WAS REPORTED AS DETONATION) & REQUESTED CLEARANCE TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. THE FLT WAS VECTORED FOR A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN TO RWY 24. THE PLT REPORTED HE WAS AT 2000 FT MSL & HAD FEATHERED THE #1 ENG AS HE TURNED ONTO BASE LEG. GROUND WITNESSES OBSERVED SMOKE TRAILING THE ACFT AS IT TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL APCH. REPORTEDLY, THE #2 ENG LOST ALL POWER & THE AIRCREW WERE UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. THE ACFT LANDED HARD ON THE ARPT, BUT APRX 1350 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE RIGHT PROP BLADES SLASHED INTO THE GRASS TURF, THE LEFT WING HIT 4 APCH LIGHTS, THEN THE ACFT CROSSED A GULLY & SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED. A TEARDOWN OF THE #2 ENG REVEALED THAT ITS MASTER ROD HAD FAILED. BOTH OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES WERE COMPLETELY SMEARED, REMOVING EVIDENCE OF THE FRACTURE ORIGIN. THE #1 ENG WAS REMOVED & MOUNTED ONANOTHER ACFT & OPERATED NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N30DR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CONVAIR 340
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 142
- Airframe hours: 50031
- Engines: P&W CB-16 2400 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Combs Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Jack E. Counts
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: MKC, KANSAS CITY, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: STL, Lambert-St. Louis, runway 24, 7,600 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 9,597 total, 118 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 14 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: STL

## 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 19831026055609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831026055609A), Oct 26, 1983: Cvac 340CVAC, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. Lost the right engine on climbout. Crash landed short of threshold. Engine had thrown a rod. Left engine check ok.

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.

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