Cessna 170 N3964V

Summary

On 24 August 1997 at about 23:00 local time, a Cessna 170 registered N3964V was involved in an accident near Elk City, Idaho, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 August 1997 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Elk City, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

45.7991, -115.5098

Aircraft

Cessna 170

Registration

N3964V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Helena → Kent

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA195

1 person was seriously injured.

Oil starvation of the engine due to undetermined reasons, which led to the failure and separation of a main bearing and a connecting rod. A factor contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a successful forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While in cruise over mountainous terrain, the pilot noticed a drop in oil pressure followed immediately by engine seizure. The pilot initiated a force landing into rugged terrain and the airplane was destroyed. Exam of the engine revealed that the no. 6 connecting rod had separated due to lack of lubrication and bearing seizure. No evidence of leaking oil was found on the underside of the airplane. The pilot stated that she checked the oil level prior to the flight and that it was adequate. The oil was last changed about one month prior to the accident. According to a maintenance log entry and the accident tachometer time, the airplane had flown about 23 hours since the oil change. The pilot stated that the airplane could not have been flown for more than about 8 hours since the inspection. The rubber seal around the no. 6 push rod tube was found detached after it was salvaged, but it could not be determined if this was a preimpact condition. The published useable oil quantity for the engine is 5.6 qts. in a 5-degree nose down attitude. Conclusive evidence for the loss of engine oil could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.