Mooney MK21 accident near Warren, Arkansas, October 25, 1985
On October 25, 1985 at about 2:50 am local time, a Mooney MK21, registered N3399X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warren, Arkansas. It was a business 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1985 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Warren, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney MK21
- Registration
- N3399X · no longer on the register · serial 1106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT CRUISE LEVEL FLT THE PLT RPTD A MALFUNCTIONING ENGINE. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND TO AN AIRPORT IN THE VICINITY. THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS INITIATED DUE TO AN OIL PRESSURE DECLINE. APPROACHING FOR THE LANDING THE PLT RPTD THE ENGINE COMPLETELY QUIT WHICH MADE A LANDINGAT THE AIRPORT IMPOSSIBLE. A TEARDOWN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 1 CONNECTING ROD WAS BROKEN WITH SIGNS OF EXTREME OVER HEATING TO THE POINT OF MELTING AND PERFORMING THE CONNECTING ROD AND CAP. THE ROD BEARING WAS SEVERELY WORN TO A POINT OF BEING PAPER THIN. THE OIL JOURNAL WAS CLOGGED WITH METAL DEBRIS. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION WAS CONFINED TO THIS CYLINDER.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,105 hours in all; 540 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 888 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,442 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHM Birmingham AL
- Destination: FTW Forth Worth TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 am from PBF, 32 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.