- Date
- August 30, 1994, 22:18 local (Aug 31, 1994, 06:18 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9130KStinson 108-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19940830024139A
- Case key
- 2549
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
The binding in the mechanical fuel selector valve, and lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power while in cruise flight and collided with trees during the forced landing in tree covered terrain. The airplane's fuel selector valve would bind when rotated and there were no indentations at the right, left, or off positions. The fuel selector valve would remain wherever it was positioned.
Factual narrative
On August 30, at 2218 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Stinson 108-1 airplane, N9130K, registered to and operated by the pilot, experienced a power failure during cruise flight and was forced to land in the trees approximately 14 miles southeast of Anchorage, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Seldovia, Alaska, and the destination was Merrill Field in Anchorage. A VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Private Certificated Pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged.
According to the pilot, there was no warning and no backfire and the fuel tank from which he was operating indicated 3/4 of a tank.
The airplane was inspected after it was recovered and no fuel was located in any of the fuel tanks. However, the airplane remained upside down in the trees for a few days before it was recovered. The fuel selector valve was examined and it was found to bind during rotation between all of the positions. There were no indentations at any of the positions. The available positions were "RIGHT, LEFT, and OFF." The fuel selector valve was marked with the correct positions listed but the placard was not from the original manufacturer.
No other mechanical abnormalities were found with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9130K
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-2130
- Engine
- Lycoming O-435-I-C, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Meyers, O.T.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 1994 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- SOV · Seldovia, AK
- Destination
- MRI · AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 224 total · 121 in this make and model · 149 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Temperature
- 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.