Ayres N4013Z

Summary

On 15 October 2003 at about 21:08 local time, a Ayres registered N4013Z, operated by Jim Prater, was involved in an accident near Midland, Texas, 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.

Date

15 October 2003 at 21:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Midland, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Air (KBPG)

Coordinates

31.9425, -102.2017

Aircraft

Ayres

Registration

N4013Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jim Prater

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Big Spring → Midland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04LA009

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to a ruptured oil line. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial application flight, the pilot's view became obstructed when oil covered the windshield, then the engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the aircraft impacted a concrete culvert, a railroad embankment, a telephone pole, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the turbine engine revealed that a high-pressure, steel-braided oil line, which connected the nose engine case to the oil cooler, had ruptured.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.