North American T-28A accident near Arcadia, Florida, May 28, 1995
On May 28, 1995 at about 5:40 pm local time, a North American T-28A, registered N28FE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcadia, Florida. It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO SEPARATION OF 3 CONNECTING RODS FROM THE MASTER ROD FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1995 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Arcadia, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-28A · all T-28As on the register
- Registration
- N28FE · registry record · serial 51-3647
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 2,500 FEET, THE OIL PRESSURE BEGAN DROPPING AND THE OIL TEMPERATURE BEGAN INCREASING. HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A COW PASTURE LANDING INTENTIONALLY GEAR-UP. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT 3 CONNECTING RODS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE MASTER ROD FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S). REVIEW OF THE ENGINE LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED ON JULY 25, 1994. THE TOTAL TIME ON THE ENGINE AT THAT TIME WAS 5,347 HOURS AND THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 18 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,300 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 7,802 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,365 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1995; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright 1820-56S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPF Tampa FL at 5:25 pm
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.