FTW85FA019

Factual narrative

APRX 7 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF (AT 1441), THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & SAID THE L ENG HAD LOST POWER. HE FEATHERED THE ENG,DIVERTED BACK TWD THE ARPT & DSCNDD TO VFR CONDS BELOW THE CLDS. AT 1448, THE PLT SAID HE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT & TURNEDONTO A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 15. RPRTDLY, HE EXTENDED THE LNDG GEAR & BGN A LEFT TURN TWD THE RWY. RPRDLY, THE ACFT WAS TOO CLOSE IN &/OR THE PLT CHOSE TO MAKE A RGT TURN AWAY FM THE ARPT TO LAND. WITNESSES LOST SIGHT OF THE ACFT DRG THE TURN DUE TO LOW CLDS OR OBSTNS. THE PLT LOST SIGHT OF THE ARPT FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN RELOCATED IT, BUT SAID HE HAD HIS 'HANDS FULL.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT, HIT THE EDGE (ROOF) OF A BLDG, CRASHED INTO A UTILITYPOLE & THE GROUND & BURNED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT WAS INVERTED JUST BEFORE IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE L ENG REVEALED EVIDENCE THE #6 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED FM OIL EXHAUSTION.ONLY 1 CUP OF OIL WAS FND IN THE ENG & IT HAD A HISTORY OF HI OIL CONSUMPTION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12