# NTSB ATL04LA007: Stinson 108-3, N831C, Lake Placid, FL, October 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2003, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Placid, FL - Coordinates: 27.25, -81.466667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2500&lon=-81.4667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO-15 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58094 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58094/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - low altitude flight/maneuver - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was flying over Lake June at 400 feet when he entered a 180-degree steep turn. When the pilot rolled out of the turn, the airplane lost lift, descended and collided with a tree adjacent to the lake and subsequently sank in the water. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2003 at 1630 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N831C, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided trees and sank in water near Lake Placid Florida. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Lake Wales Municipal Airport, Lake Wales, Florida, on October 5, 2003, at 1520. The pilot reported that he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane and found no problems with the airplane. After take off, the pilot, reported that he was flying over Lake June at 400 feet when he entered a 180-degree steep turn. When the pilot rolled out of the turn, the airplane descended, collided with a tree adjacent to the lake, and subsequently sank into the water. Examination of the airframe revealed that the airframe was twisted and the floats were damaged. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N831C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N831C-2007-06-01), registration cancelled 2007-06-01, S/N 108-3831, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-3 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-3831 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Engines: Franklin GA-350-C 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eric Weaver - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 2003, 175 hours before - Departed: X07, Lake Wales, FL - Destination: Lake Placid, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 180 total, 61 in this make and model, 155 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: BOW, 4 nm away ## 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 20031005031269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031005031269A), Oct 5, 2003: Univar 1083, Lake Placid, FL, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot on sight seeing flight, cruising 400FT to 500FT over lake June turned downwind approx 45 degree bank to land on lake June. Pilot said a/c lost lift… ## Other investigations on N831C (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC67F0460](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67F0460), Feb 26, 1967: Stinson 108-3 (N831C), Lincoln, NE, substantial damage 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.