Cessna 208 N9438F

Summary

On 3 September 1991 at about 17:53 local time, a Cessna 208 registered N9438F, operated by Markair Express Inc., was involved in an accident near Dillingham, Alaska, United States. One person was 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.

Date

3 September 1991 at 17:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Dillingham, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

58.8196, -157.8592

Aircraft

Cessna 208

Registration

N9438F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Markair Express Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC91FA142

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INATTENTIVE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE ENGINE OIL TUBE FILLER CAP RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE OIL AND OIL PRESSURE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ENGINE FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ON SOFT TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT AND CHECKED THE OIL BY REMOVING THE DIP STICK/OIL FILLER CAP. AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME, THE PILOT NOTICED A DECREASE IN THE TORQUE INDICATION AND ENGINE OIL PRESSURE. HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO DILLINGHAM AND ENROUTE THE ENGINE LOST MORE OIL PRESSURE AND 'COUGHED' TWICE AND THE PILOT FEATHERED THE PROPELLER AND LANDED ON THE TUNDRA. UPON LANDING THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE ON SITE INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE LEFT, LOWER SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE WAS COVERED WITH OIL AND THE OIL DIP STICK/FILLER CAP WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THE FILLER NECK. IT WAS RESTING ON THE INSIDE OF THE UPPER COWLING BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE WAS UPSIDE DOWN. THE BRIEF SHOWS THAT THE PILOT WAS THE HOLDER OF AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THE COMPUTER DATABASE PROGRAM WILL NOT ACCEPT A COMMERCIAL PILOT RATING WHILE SHOWING A SCHEDULED 14 CFR 135, PASSENGER/CARGO TYPE OF OPERATION. THE PILOT IS ONLY THE HOLDER OF A COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.