- Date
- January 13, 2002, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bayou La Batre, AL
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9315KConsolidated-Vultee 108-M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 20, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20020113001849A
- Case key
- 54052
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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
A Stinson 108M, experienced a loss of engine power on the initial takeoff/climb from Roy E. Ray Airport in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. According to the pilot, the engine lost power at 400 feet above the ground during the climb out. The pilot executed a left turn and collided with power lines approximately 35 above ground. The airplane came to rest in a nearby ditch about 400 feet from the end of the departure runway 36.
Factual narrative
On January 13, 2002, at 1700 central standard time, a Stinson 108M, N9315K, experienced a loss of engine power on the initial takeoff/climb from Roy E. Ray Airport in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The airplane, registered to Consolidated-Vultee, was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR part 91. The personal flight was enroute from Bayou La Batre, Alabama to St. Elmo, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage.
The pilot stated there were 20 gallons of fuel on board at takeoff. According to the pilot, the engine lost power at 400 feet above the ground during the climb out. The pilot stated that he established glide at 65-70mph and attempted an engine restart unsuccessfully. The pilot executed a left turn and collided with power lines approximately 35 above ground. The airplane subsequently came to rest in a nearby ditch about 400 feet from the end of the departure runway 36.
A review of weather data showed conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor icing; the temperature was 57 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Tests were performed on both magnetos, they both operated within normal parameters. A functional check of the engine was performed; the power was checked at 2700 rpm and results indicated that the engine ran smoothly at full power and at idle. Oil pressure was normal during the functional check. The functional check of the engine failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9315K
- Reported as
- Consolidated-Vultee 108-M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-2315
- Airframe hours
- 1,817.2
- Engine
- Lycoming 0360A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Michael Lee Murphy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 30, 2001 · 86.3 hours before
- Departed
- 5R7 · Bayou La Batre, AL
- Destination
- 2R5 · St. Elmo, AL
- Airport
- 5R7 · Roy E. Ray, runway 5R7, 2,740 × 200 ft, grass/turf
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
- 44
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- January 11, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 486 total · 86 in this make and model · 406 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- BAY, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 77 KB 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.