Piper PA-46-310P accident near Odessa, Texas, January 2, 2000
On January 2, 2000 at about 10:11 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N4389W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Odessa, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the #1 piston pin due to fatigue, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2000 · about 10:11 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N4389W · no longer on the register · serial 8508050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was climbing through 9,000 feet, after departure, when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful and executed a forced landing north of the departure airport. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was a hole in the engine crankcase behind the #2 cylinder and the #1 piston pin had separated at its midpoint. Further, examination of the engine revealed that the #1 piston pin failed as a result of fatigue and the #1 connecting rod bushing (piston pin end) was found fragmented in the oil sump.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,588 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 3,588 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1999; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,180 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ODO Odessa TX at 9:57 pm
- Destination: CVN Clovis NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 149° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.