# NTSB CEN19LA060: Stinson 108, N97969, Keshena, WI, January 19, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 19, 2019, 11:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Keshena, WI - Coordinates: 44.996387, -88.603614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9964&lon=-88.6036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Milwaukee FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 98878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98878/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98878 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA060 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent impact with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Stinson 108-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=9230404), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a personal flight; while in cruise flight, the engine experienced a momentary and substantial loss of rpm. The pilot moved the mixture to the full-rich position, turned on the carburetor heat, and switched to the right fuel tank. The engine recovered power, and the pilot left the carburetor heat on for about 3 minutes and then slowly turned it off. About 2 minutes later, the engine lost all power. The pilot activated the starter, but it did not engage. The pilot chose to execute a forced landing on a road, during which the airplane impacted trees, bounced, and then came to rest inverted on a snow-covered embankment. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident were not conducive for the formation of carburetor icing. The airplane had an adequate amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident. Therefore, the reason for the loss of all engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On January 19, 2019, about 1125 central standard time, a Stinson 108-1, N97969, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident on the Menominee Indian Reservation near Keshena, Wisconsin. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and the three passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the personal flight was to travel to Ford Airport (IMT), Iron Mountain, Michigan. The airplane had 26 gallons of fuel onboard prior to departure. While in cruise flight, the engine sustained a momentary and substantial loss of rpm. The pilot reported that cruise power settings was about 2,300 rpm and the rpm needle decreased down to about 1,500 rpm. The pilot applied the mixture to the full rich position, activated the carburetor heat, and switched to the right fuel tank. The engine recovered and the pilot left the carburetor heat on for about three minutes and then slowly turned it off. About two minutes after the carburetor heat was turned off, the engine ceased producing power. The pilot reported the propeller did not windmill after the loss of engine power. The pilot activated the starter and it did not engage. The pilot observed an asphalt road surrounded by trees on both sides where he decided to execute a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted the trees and bounced on the road, coming to rest upside down on a snow-covered embankment. The occupants were able to egress without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. A postaccident examination of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident were not conducive for the formation of carburetor icing per the carburetor icing probability graph from the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention. Although requested, the pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97969](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97969-2019-12-16), registration cancelled 2019-12-16, S/N 108-969, built 1946 (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: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-969 - Year built: 1946 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-165 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PCZ, Waupaca, WI - Destination: IMT, Iron Mountain Kingsford, MI - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 3,465 total, 22 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KEZS, 13 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 20190119000309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190119000309A), Jan 19, 2019: Stinson 108-1, Shawano, WI, Destroyed. The pilot in command stated that on January 18, 2019 he went to bed at 2130 and woke up on January 19, 2019 at 0630. He stated that he felt good and he was not… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98878. 4.8 MB in all. - Accident Photographs (item 1, .PDF, 746 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484663&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20-Master.PDF - Pilot Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 684 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484664&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484665&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%20-Master.PDF - FAA Engine Examination Report (item 4, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484666&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Engine%20Examination%20Report%20-Master.PDF - Pilot Email Message (item 5, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484667&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Email%20Message%20-Master.PDF 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.