- Date
- April 17, 2010, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Dexter, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N988DStinson 108-2
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- St. Louis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100417005029A
- Case key
- 75811
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 loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Findings · 2
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 he flew the airplane earlier on the same day as the accident on a 75 mile flight. The pilot stated that before the return flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane including taking fuel samples to check for water or contaminants. None were found. The pilot further stated that he performed engine pre-takeoff checks including magneto and carburetor heat checks prior to departure. The airplane took off and climbed to 3,000 feet. After about 5 minutes the engine began running rough and he switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat. No improvement in engine operation was noted. The pilot then turned the airplane toward terrain more suitable for landing. The engine stopped making power and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the landing, he applied brakes with the yoke fully aft and the airplane's tail would raise. He released the brakes to allow the tail to lower. The pilot repeatedly applied and released the brakes attempting to stop the airplane, but the airplane nosed over and came to rest on its top. Examination of the engine after the accident revealed that the aluminum intake tubing had split outward and was fully compromised. The engine was examined and spark was produced on all magneto leads and valve action was verified on all cylinders. One cylinder produced little compression when the engine was rotated. All other cylinders produced compression and suction when the engine was rotated. The cylinder with low compression was removed and examined but no defects were found.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he flew the airplane earlier on the same day as the accident on a 75 mile flight. The pilot stated that before the return flight, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane including taking fuel samples to check for water or contaminants. None were found. The pilot further stated that he performed engine pre-takeoff checks including magneto and carburetor heat checks prior to departure. The airplane took off and climbed to 3,000 feet. After about 5 minutes the engine began running rough and he switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat. No improvement in engine operation was noted. The pilot then turned the airplane toward terrain more suitable for landing. The engine stopped making power and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the landing, the pilot applied brakes with the yoke fully aft and the airplane's tail would raise. The pilot released the brakes to allow the tail to lower. The pilot repeatedly applied and released the brakes attempting to stop the airplane, but the airplane nosed over and came to rest on its top. Examination of the engine after the accident revealed that the aluminum intake tubing had split outward and was fully compromised. The engine was examined and spark was produced on all magneto leads and valve action was verified on all cylinders. One cylinder produced little compression when the engine was rotated. All other cylinders produced compression and suction when the engine was rotated. The cylinder with low compression was removed and examined but no defects were found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N988D
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-2988
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4165 SERIES, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- DXE · Dexter, MO
- Destination
- K02 · Perryville, MO
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
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,393 total · 59 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KPOF, 18 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 284 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.