- Date
- March 14, 2024, 16:30 local (Mar 15, 2024, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, AK
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9041KStinson 108
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20240314003979A
- Case key
- 193974
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that this was his first flight of the season in a ski-equipped airplane, and that he filled one fuel tank with 20 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff. He stated the taxi was difficult due to unfavorable snow conditions, and he had to exit the airplane several times while taxiing. Prior to starting his takeoff run, he was frustrated and performed a mental checklist, not confirming the position of the fuel selector. He departed with the fuel selector on the empty fuel tank and shortly after takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing into trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and rudder. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9041K
- Reported as
- Stinson 108
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-2041
- Built
- 1947
- Airframe hours
- 4,200.7
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4-150-B3, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 5, 2024
- Destination
- Skwetna, AK
- Airport
- pvt · 9ak7, runway 04, 1,800 × 100 ft, snow
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 9, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 2,047 total · 1,009 in this make and model · 2,025 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 16 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.65 inHg
- Observed at
- AWS, 7 nm away
- METAR
- PAWS 141156Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M09/M11 A2965 RMK AO2 SLP048 T10891106 11006 21089 56009 FZRANO
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9041K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.