Piper PA-24-250 accident near North Anson, Maine, September 10, 1994
On September 10, 1994 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N55GV, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Anson, Maine. 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 inadequately installed cylinder mounting stud nuts, by the engine overhaul facility, which resulted in the separation of the number two cylinder and the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1994 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Anson, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N55GV · registry record · serial 24-401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ON THE SECOND LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THIRTY MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT A VIBRATION BEGAN, FOLLOWED BY OIL SEEPING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE FAILED AND OIL COVERED THE AIRPLANE WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD WITH NO FORWARD VISIBILITY DUE TO THE OIL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT STRUCK TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE. SEVEN OF THE EIGHT CYLINDER STUDS HAD SHEARED. THE STUD NOT SHEARED WAS INTACT AND UNDAMAGED. AN UPPER STUD WAS RUSTED PARTIALLY ACROSS, WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE STUD SHEARED CLEANLY. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 362 TACH HOURS BEFORE THE FAILURE BY A LOCAL ENGINE OVERHAUL FACILITY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,808 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,218 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1994; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 81B Oxford ME at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 3B1 Greenville ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft; scat at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from WVL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.