Plane Crash List

Piper PA-28R-200 N3940X

24 May 1989 · Edmond, Oklahoma, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 24 May 1989 at about 03:00 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N3940X, operated by James, Rodney C., was involved in an accident near Edmond, Oklahoma, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 03:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Edmond, Oklahoma, United States
Coordinates
35.6693, -97.4095
Aircraft
Piper PA-28R-200
Registration
N3940X
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
James, Rodney C.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Oklahoma City → Stillwater
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Bright
NTSB number
FTW89LA098

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 0 3

Probable cause

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE COMPANY MECHANIC WHO FAILED TO TIGHTEN THE OIL SUMP PLUG, AND ALSO FAILED TO SAFETY IT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A PERSONAL NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT NOTICED A RAPID LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND A FULL INCREASE OF PROPELLER RPM. HE HEADED TOWARD THE NEAREST AIRPORT BUT THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF A IRON PIPE FENCE. THE PILOT TRIED TO PULL THE AIRPLANE UP OVER THE FENCE BUT THE LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF WHEN IT HIT THE TOP OF THE FENCE. INSPECTION REVEALED THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE, NO SUMP PLUG IN THE ENGINE, AND NO EVIDENCE OF THE SUMP PLUG HAVING EVER BEEN SAFETIED. THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER ALSO HAD A HOLE IN IT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-28R accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
3 Aug 1989 Piper PA-28R-201
N1707H
Mattituck, New York, United States Fred Bollenbach No injuries -
1 Jul 1989 Piper PA-28R
N15250
Port Aransas, Texas, United States McKinley, Paul No injuries -
12 Feb 1989 Piper PA-28R-201
N16TP
Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States Plodzien, Thomas J. No injuries -
31 Jul 1989 Piper PA-28R-201T
N64MB
College Park, Maryland, United States Archer Assoc. Inc Fatal 4
28 May 1989 Piper PA-28R-200
N9421N
Angel Fire, New Mexico, United States - Minor injuries -
16 Nov 1989 Piper PA-28R-200
N55399
New Castle, New York, United States Miller, Walter Fatal 2

All 1,342 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 Apr 1989 Piper PA-32-300
N8654N
Eufaula, Oklahoma, United States Bauer, Kathleen No injuries -
27 Apr 1989 Cessna 182
N5160D
Owasso, Oklahoma, United States William Burney York No injuries -
6 May 1989 Bell 47L
N6330D
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Allied Helicopters, Inc. No injuries -
19 May 1989 Cessna 177B
N1275C
Harrah, Oklahoma, United States
no coordinates
Advance Meat Co., Inc. No injuries -
21 May 1989 Aeronca 65-TAC
N39304
Pryor, Oklahoma, United States Cole, Charles W. Serious injuries -
26 May 1989 Bell 47D-1
N2202C
Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States