Cessna T207A accident near Page, Arizona, May 26, 2003
On May 26, 2003 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna T207A, registered N9317M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Page, Arizona. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to a oil starvation induced catastrophic internal failure of the engine caused by the rotation of the number 2 cylinder main bearing. This narrative was modified on February 16, 2005.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2003 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Page, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T207A · all T207As on the register
- Registration
- N9317M · registry record · serial 20700680
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot executed a forced landing after the airplane experienced a catastrophic engine failure. Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the engine started to violently shake. The pilot retarded the throttle to 15 inches of manifold pressure and reduced the rpm to 2300. White smoke was emitted from the top portion of the cowling and a small amount of smoke entered the cockpit. Also, a large amount of "very black" oil came from the front of the cowling. The pilot turned the airplane in the direction of the nearest airport. About 2 minutes later, the engine stopped completely. He turned a base leg for the highway below. While on final, the airplane was overtaking vehicles on the road so he elected to deviate to the side of the highway. During the landing roll, the nose gear was torn off. After securing the airplane, the pilot noted two large holes on the top, aft portion of the engine casing. Pieces of casing and piston were on and around the engine. A piston rod was located on top of the engine, and a third hole was located at the bottom of the engine casing. Disassembly of the engine revealed that the number 2 cylinder main bearing rotated and closed off the oil supply to the bearing. It had been 1464.5 hours since the engine's last overhaul. According to the engine manufacturer, the time between overhauls for this engine is 1,600 operating hours. An oil analysis on December 7, 2001, indicated that the wear metals appeared high for the oil time. This narrative was modified on February 16, 2005.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 368 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 2,142 as pilot in command; 1,486 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 8, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,684.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2003; 26.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 5:30 pm
- Destination: GCN Grand Canyon AZ
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from PGA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N9317M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX03LA164.