Plane Crash List

Ryan ST3KR N59466

26 August 1989 · Hawthorne, California, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 26 August 1989 at about 19:26 local time, a Ryan ST3KR registered N59466 was involved in an accident near Hawthorne, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. 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 19:26
Classification
Accident
Location
Hawthorne, California, United States
Nearest airport
Hawthorne Muni (HHR)
Coordinates
33.9097, -118.3401
Aircraft
Ryan ST3KR
Registration
N59466
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX89LA288

People

2 people had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 2 0

Probable cause

OIL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO TURN THE OIL TANK SUPPLY VALVE ON PRIOR TO FLIGHT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN DURING AN AIRSHOW THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE PILOT DETECTED A HOT OIL SMELL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE PILOT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A GRADED CONSTRUCTION AREA. AN FAA INSPECTOR MONITORING THE AIRSHOW ARRIVED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND FOUND THE PROPER QUANTITY OF OIL IN THE TANK AND NOTED THE OIL WAS COLD TO THE TOUCH. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EXTENSIVE HEAT SIGNATURES, GALLING OF THE FRONT BEARING AND METAL PARTICLES DISTRIBUTED IN THE OIL SUMP; ALL CHARACTERISTICS OF OIL STARVATION. THE OIL PASSAGES AND OIL PUMP WERE NORMAL. EXAMINATION OF THE OIL TANK REVEALED THAT IT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN OIL SHUT OFF VALVE. THE VALVE IS NORMALLY TURNED OFF AFTER EVERY FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE IS SURE HE TURNED THE VALVE ON PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, HOWEVER, THE POSITION OF THE VALVE WAS NOT DOCUMENTED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND THE PRE IMPACT POSITION COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED WITH CERTAINTY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Ryan ST3KR accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
3 Sep 1987 Ryan ST3KR
N3761Q
Springdale, Arkansas, United States - No injuries -
13 Jul 1987 Ryan ST3KR
N48777
Firebaugh, California, United States - Fatal 2
7 Sep 1987 Ryan ST3KR
N53190
Aguila, Arizona, United States McDonald, James E. Minor injuries -
16 Jun 1991 Ryan ST3KR
N46795
Santa Maria, California, United States Sullivan, Michael D. No injuries -
26 Feb 1986 Ryan ST3KR
N51122
Camarillo, California, United States Stephen K. Freeman No injuries -
14 Jul 1985 Ryan ST3KR (PT-22)
N46170
Hondo, Texas, United States - No injuries -

All 37 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
15 Sep 1989 Piper PA-31-350
N70PE
Ontario, California, United States Ameriflight Fatal 1
26 Sep 1989 Piper PA-25-235
N4450Y
Warner Springs, California, United States - No injuries -
19 Sep 1989 Cessna 310K
N6958L
Ojai, California, United States - Fatal 2
30 Sep 1989 Cessna 182
N96642
Eureka, California, United States Nothern Air No injuries -
30 Sep 1989 Cessna 152
N6422M
Lancaster, California, United States West Coast Air Center Fatal 2
29 Sep 1989 Bellanca 17-30A
N8272R
Palo Alto, California, United States Klouda, Linda K. Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States