# NTSB ANC94LA117: Stinson 108-1, N9130K, Anchorage, AK, August 31, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1994, 22:18 local (Aug 31, 1994, 06:18 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.219409, -149.849578 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2194&lon=-149.8496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2549
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2549/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA117

## Probable cause

THE BINDING IN THE MECHANICAL FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fuel system,selector/valve - binding(mechanical) (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9130K-2013-05-22), registration cancelled 2013-05-22, S/N 108-2130, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-1
- Registry model: [Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1) (registry code 9230404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-435C&D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-435c-d-series) (registry code 41521, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 108-2130
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19940830024139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940830024139A), Aug 30, 1994: Univar 1081, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Landed in tree tops. Inverted and hung. Fuel empty. Fuel selector binding and no detentes.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.