Piper PA-28-140 accident near Bunnell, Florida, February 20, 1993
On February 20, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N55737, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida. It was a personal 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
THE RUPTURE OF THE OIL COOLER LINE AT THE ADEL CLAMP FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, AND A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE SEIZURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N55737 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT 6,500 FEET MSL WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, AND A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE SEIZURE. THE PILOT CONTACTED DAYTONA APPROACH CONTROL, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, AND CONDUCTED A FORCED LANDING INTO THE TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND ACCESSORIES REVEALED THE OIL COOLER LINE AT THE ADEL CLAMP HAD FAILED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
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: 1,035 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,035 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 17, 1992; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAV Savanna GA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from DAB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.