Amateur-built BARRACUDA accident near Yoncalla, Oregon, May 20, 1993
On May 20, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built BARRACUDA, registered N54265, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yoncalla, Oregon. 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 ENGINE OIL FILTER VIBRATING LOOSE RESULTING IN OIL STARVATION, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S MISJUDGMENT OF WINDS. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNFAVORABLE WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yoncalla, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BARRACUDA
- Registration
- N54265 · no longer on the register · serial 525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ESTABLISHED IN CRUISE AT 4000 FEET THE PILOT HEARD A PECULIAR SOUND AND OBSERVED DECREASING ENGINE RPM. AS THE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE TO 1200 THE PILOT SECURED THE ENGINE VIA THE IGNITION AND INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD ALONGSIDE AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DURING HIS APPROACH TO THE NORTH HE FOUND HIS GROUND SPEED TO BE EXCESSIVE AND ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN DURING WHICH TIME THE LEFT WINGTIP IMPACTED THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE FORD V6 ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE OIL FILTER/ COOLER HAD VIBRATED LOOSE ALLOWING THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK OVERBOARD.
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: 409 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 115 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ford 1984 3.8L V6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA31 Langley WA at 3:45 pm
- Destination: WLW Willows CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from RBG, 18 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.
Other NTSB records under N54265 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.