Beechcraft S35 N322D

Summary

On 25 November 2012 at about 21:42 local time, a Beechcraft S35 registered N322D, operated by Jack C. Murrell, Jr, was involved in an accident near DeRidder, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 November 2012 at 21:42

Classification

Accident

Location

DeRidder, Louisiana, United States

Coordinates

30.8567, -93.0000

Aircraft

Beechcraft S35

Registration

N322D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jack C. Murrell, Jr

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shreveport → DeRidder

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA072

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation after the oil filler cap separated from the oil filler tube during flight due to corrosion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during low altitude operations, which precipitated the onset of a stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that the airplane was in cruise flight at 5,500 feet mean sea level when he heard an "odd" sound coming from the engine. He diverted to the nearest airport but then saw oil on the windscreen and smoke in the cockpit. When he realized he would not reach the diversion airport, the pilot made a gear down landing in a field. Before touchdown, the pilot pushed the control column forward in an attempt to avoid a stall, and the airplane landed hard. Examination of the engine revealed damage consistent with oil starvation. Examination of the engine assembly did not reveal any blocked or restricted oil ports/galleys or slipped/elongated bearings that would result in a loss of oil or oil pressure. Examination of the cap for the oil dipstick revealed it was severely corroded and the tangs used to secure it to the oil filler tube were missing. The cap for the oil gauge rod (dipstick) had separated from the dipstick and was found several feet away from the main wreckage; thus it is likely that the oil leaked out from this location.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.