Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Buckeye, Arizona, July 31, 1997
On July 31, 1997 at about 3:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N4667J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona (Buckeye Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total oil exhaustion of the engine due to the inadequate maintenance installation of the oil cooler lines by the owner/mechanic.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1997 · about 3:14 pm local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Buckeye Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4667J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The owner of the airplane, who is a certified A & P mechanic, had complied with an AD which required the replacement of the oil cooler hose. He ran the engine up to idle but did not remove the engine cowling to check for signs of an oil leak. The airport manager stated he noticed a large oil puddle at the site where the airplane was started and a trail of oil leading out to the runway. The airplane climbed about 250 feet when the engine quit and a forced landing was made. The engine teardown revealed no oil in the engine, with heat distress noted to the bearings and journals, and the number 2 connecting rod separated from the crankshaft. One oil cooler line was loose and required an 180-degree turn to tighten the nut.
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: 1,337 hours in all; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1996; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BXK AZ at 3:00 pm
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from GYR, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.