- Date
- June 13, 1989, 18:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place
- Dillsburg, PA
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9953WPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 9, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890613015509A
- Case key
- 36422
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 engine stoppage caused by the lack of engine lubricant.
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
During his descent into new cumberland airport, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power and complete stoppage. He was forced to land off the airport in a corn field. According to the pilot-in-command and owner of the airplane, the engine oil was pushed out of the crankcase vent tube due to a compression leak into the crankcase. The location of the compression leak was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9953W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-23499
- Airframe hours
- 1,729
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas H. Duffy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 1989 · 129 hours before
- Departed
- W09 · Leesburg, VA
- Destination
- CXY · New Cumberland, PA
- Airport
- NONE
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
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 145 total · 50 in this make and model · 65 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.