- Date
- May 15, 1994, 20:00 local (May 16, 1994, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kettle River, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9761KStinson 108-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940515010959A
- Case key
- 9532
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 pilot's improper use of carburetor heat and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. The carburetor icing weather condition was a factor.
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
The pilot reported the engine lost RPM, sputtered and stopped about 10-12 seconds after takeoff. The airplane struck some trees during the forced landing. FAA inspectors who examined the airplane could find no engine anomaly which would cause a loss of power. The temperature was 51 degrees, and the dew point was 43 degrees. These temperature/dew point conditions are favorable for serious carburetor icing. The pilot stated he did a carburetor heat check on run-up. The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage reported the carburetor heat was in the 'off' position.
Factual narrative
On May 15, 1994, about 2000 central daylight time, a Stinson 108- 2, N9761K, experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff from a private airstrip near Kettle River, Minnesota. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck some trees in the forced landing. The private pilot was not injured. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
The pilot stated the engine rpm dropped about 10-12 seconds after lift off, then the engine started sputtering and stopped. Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors who examined the wreckage reported the carburetor and intake manifold were damaged by ground impact. They were not able to determine if the fuel contained any contaminates. The Inspectors stated they were not able to find any engine malfunctions. The temperature was 51 degrees F., and the dew point was 43 degrees F. The pilot stated he checked the operation of the carburetor heat during his pre- takeoff engine run-up. The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage reported the carburetor heat was in the OFF position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9761K
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-2761
- Engine
- Franklin 165-B3, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Steven J. Korhonen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 9, 1994 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 30
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 79 total · 15 in this make and model · 22 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,400 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- COQ, 16 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.