# NTSB CEN19LA222: Stinson 108, N9651K, Clinton, AR, July 13, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 13, 2019, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Clinton, AR - Coordinates: 35.599593, -92.456987 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5996&lon=-92.4570&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA222 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition; cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=9230406), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had been stored in a hangar and not flown for 3 years. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed on a flight to a nearby airport, where he added 100 low-lead aviation fuel to the automotive fuel already contained in the wing tanks and subsequently departed on the return flight. About 150 ft above ground level after takeoff, the engine lost partial power. The airplane descended and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A fuel sample from the carburetor revealed some contamination; however, the contaminant was not identified. Although it is possible that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel contamination, the engine was not examined following the accident and a mechanical failure could not be ruled out; therefore, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2019, about 1120 central daylight time, a Stinson 108 airplane, N9651K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Clinton, Arkansas. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passengers were both seriously injured. The airplane operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to information obtained from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane had been stored in a hangar and not flown for about 3 years. The pilot checked the fuel and then departed for a nearby airport. After landing, the pilot estimated that the airplane’s left tank had 8 gallons of automotive fuel and the right wing had 16 gallons of automotive fuel. The age of the fuel could not be determined. The pilot added 12 gallons of 100 low-lead fuel to the left tank and 4 gallons to the right tank, and subsequently departed to the origin airport. During the initial climb after takeoff, when the airplane was about 150 ft above ground level, the pilot perceived that the airplane’s performance was reduced and recalled that the tachometer read 1,850 rpm, which was lower than expected. The airplane settled and the pilot flared the airplane before the collision with terrain to minimize impact forces. The airplane collided with the ground and came to rest against trees, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The FAA inspector took a fuel sample from the carburetor and found contaminants in the fuel. When poured into a glass jar, several particles settled to the bottom of the jar. The fuel sample was not secured and was not available for further testing. The engine was not examined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9651K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9651K-2020-10-03), registration cancelled 2020-10-03, S/N 108-2651, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108 (2) - Registry model: [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (registry code 9230406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-2651 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: Franklin 6A4165 SERIES 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CCA, Clinton, AR - Destination: 2A2, Clinton, AR - Airport: CCA, Clinton Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KCCA - METAR: METAR KCCA 131535Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM OVC020 28/23 A3000 RMK AO2= ## 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 20190713011399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190713011399A), Jul 13, 2019: Stinson 108-2, Clinton, AR, Substantial damage. At approximately 1030 CT local on July 13, 2019 an ATP rated pilot and his two passengers departed from runway 31 of Clinton municipal airport (kcca) in… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99832. 979 KB in all. - Case findings (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13132511&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Findings%20CEN19LA222-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13132960&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13133633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Rel.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.