Beech B19 accident near Osage Beach, Missouri, March 11, 2015
On March 11, 2015 at about 5:43 pm local time, a 1976 Beech B19, registered N774TA, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Osage Beach, Missouri (Grand Glaize-Osage Beach Arto airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the No. 4 piston wrist pin plug and the subsequent entry of its metal shavings into the oil system, which clogged the oil passages and caused the engine to seize. Contributing to the accident was the installation of engine parts that were not approved by the engine manufacturer.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2015 · about 5:43 pm local time
- Place
- Osage Beach, Missouri · Grand Glaize-Osage Beach Arto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B19, built 1976 · all B19s on the register
- Registration
- N774TA · no longer on the register · serial MB825
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, he noticed that the oil pressure was dropping. Shortly after the oil pressure dropped, the engine seized, and the pilot subsequently ditched the airplane in a lake. When the airplane was recovered, the oil dipstick was missing. However, more than 4 quarts of oil and only about 1 to 2 cups of water were drained from the engine. If the dipstick had not been in the engine at impact, the engine would have been full of water. Further, the pilot reported that he had replaced the dipstick after checking the oil; so, the dipstick likely was in place at impact. No signs of oil were found in the engine cowling, and no oil streaks were observed underneath the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft middle bearing had seized. The third bearing aft, which was between the two banks of cylinders, and the No. 3 connecting rod bearing had rotated and exhibited severe heat distress and mechanical damage. The No. 4 piston wrist pin plug was deformed, and the deformation had damaged the side of the piston. Aluminum pieces and shavings were found throughout the engine. It is likely that, as the No. 4 wrist pin plug wore down, its shavings entered the oil system and clogged the oil passages, which caused the engine to seize. The examination also revealed that the engine parts installed on the airplane, including the No. 4 piston wrist pin plug, were not approved by the engine manufacturer.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Ditching during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid condition
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Related maintenance info
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 375 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,451 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2014; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 2,451 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K15 Grand Glaize MO
- Destination: 1H0 St. Louis MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,205 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KAIZ, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.