Devenport EAA BIPLANE N9601
16 December 1991 · Wilksville, Ohio, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 16 December 1991 at about 21:10 local time, a Devenport EAA BIPLANE registered N9601, operated by Jack F. Holgate, was involved in an accident near Wilksville, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one 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 21:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wilksville, Ohio, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.1596, -82.3694
- Aircraft
- Devenport EAA BIPLANE
- Registration
- N9601
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Jack F. Holgate
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- London → Athens
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC92DEG01
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE RESTRICTED VISIBILITY OF THE PILOT DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD AND HIS GOGGLES, WHICH RESULTED IN A TREE STRIKE AND UNCONTROLLED TOUCHDOWN, DURING THE EXECUTION OF A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A CLOGGED CRANKCASE BREATHER TUBE, THE LACK OF A WHISTLE SLOT ON THE CRANKCASE BREATHER TUBE, AND THE TREES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, IN AN EXPERIMENTALLY CERTIFIED AIRPLANE, WHEN THE CRANKCASE BREATHER WHICH WAS NOT PRESSURIZED WITH A WHISTLE SLOT FROZE UP. THE CRANKCASE PRESSURIZED AND THE CRANKCASE SEAL WAS DISLODGED. THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD OF LIMITED SIZE, SURROUNDED BY TREES. DUE TO THE RESTRICTED VIIBILITY OF THE PILOT, WITH OIL ON HIS GOGGLES AND WINDSHIELD, HE STRUCK A TREE ON FINAL AND MADE AN UNCONTROLLED TOUCHDOWN IN THE FIELD. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE IS A REQUIREMENT OF A WHISTLE SLOT ON NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES, HOWEVER, THIS REQUIREMENT DOES NOT EXIST FOR EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY AIRPLANES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1991 | Learjet LR25B-XR | Columbus, Ohio, United States | New Creations, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | Millville, Ohio, United States | GO Leasing Company | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Pomeroy, Ohio, United States | Charles K. Gard | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1991 | Cessna A185F | Vernon, Ohio, United States | George H. Siegel | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 1991 | Cessna 182 | Xenia, Ohio, United States | Skydive Green County | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft B90 | Waynesville, Ohio, United States | West Tennessee Skydivers | Serious injuries | - |