North American T-28B N138WW

Summary

On 25 February 1991 at about 19:58 local time, a North American T-28B registered N138WW, operated by Worldwide Aeronautical IND, Inc, was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, 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 February 1991 at 19:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.4408, -111.8506

Aircraft

North American T-28B

Registration

N138WW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Worldwide Aeronautical IND, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Mesa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA121

1 person was seriously injured.

1) THE FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE UPPER CRANKCASE OIL BREATHER LINE; 2) TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAUSED BY A LACK OF LUBRICATING OIL. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT INADVERTANTLY STALLING THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A WIRE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE UPPER CRANKCASE OIL BREATHER LINE FAILED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, WHICH ALLOWED THE ENGINE'S OIL TO VENT OVERBOARD. THE LACK OF OIL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER RESULTED. THE PILOT SET UP A POWER-OFF APPROACH TO A ROAD, BUT ALTERED THE AIRCRAFT'S COURSE DUE TO EXCESSIVE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN AN OPEN AREA. ON SHORT FINAL, THE PILOT SAW HIGH TENSION WIRES. TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE WIRES, THE PILOT PULLED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT UP. THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED THE WIRES, BUT THE AIRSPEED SLOWED CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.