Van Zwoll VIKING N69VZ

Summary

On 10 August 1995 at about 17:50 local time, a Van Zwoll VIKING registered N69VZ was involved in an accident near Decker, Indiana, 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

10 August 1995 at 17:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Decker, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

38.5104, -87.5204

Aircraft

Van Zwoll VIKING

Registration

N69VZ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Evansville → Mount Carmel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI95LA284

Nobody was injured.

the failure of the head gasket resulting in a coolant leak and subsequent engine overtemperature. A factor was the unsuitable terrain encountered in the cornfield.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS CRUISING AT 2,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL AND NOTED THE WATER PRESSURE GAGE WAS PEGGED AT THE MAXIMUM INDICATION. HE IMMEDIATELY REDUCED POWER AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING SITE. HE HEARD A 'LOUD POP' AND OBSERVED COOLANT ON THE WINDSCREEN. THE OIL TEMPERATURE INDICATION BEGAN TO INCREASE. HE TRIMMED FOR BEST GLIDE AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN WHEN THE OIL TEMPERATURE REACHED 285 DEGREES. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A CORN FIELD, ONE OF THE LIFT STRUTS SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS WAS LEAKING AND COOLANT WAS ESCAPING FROM A LEAKING FREEZE PLUG. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S TORQUE PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED WHEN HE INSTALLED THE HEAD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.