Curtiss Wright P40M accident near Batavia, Ohio, December 8, 2011
On December 8, 2011 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Curtiss Wright P40M, registered N5813, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Batavia, Ohio (Clermont County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to failure of the engine oil cooler and subsequent oil starvation to the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2011 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Batavia, Ohio · Clermont County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Curtiss Wright P40M · all P40Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5813 · registry record · serial 27501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the engine shuddered several times and that the engine oil pressure dropped to zero, followed by a complete loss of engine power. About that time, the windshield and canopy were covered with oil and coolant, which restricted forward visibility. The pilot performed a forced landing at the departure airport. However, due to excessive airspeed on approach, he was unable to stop the airplane before it departed the end of the runway and impacted the airport perimeter fence. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine oil cooler had cracked, which resulted in an engine failure due to a loss of engine oil. The oil cooler was an original World War II era component. The crack did not appear to have initiated at a previously repaired area.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Cooler › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Windows › windshield system › Flight compartment windows › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,947 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,780 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 7, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 556 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 31, 2011; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison V-1710-81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I69 Batavia OH at 7:40 pm
- Destination: I69 Batavia OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,566 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from LUK, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.