# NTSB CHI98LA278: Stinson 108-1, N483C, Bloomington, IN, July 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 1998, 10:26 local (15:26 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IN - Coordinates: 39.23064, -86.470298 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2306&lon=-86.4703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43105 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43105/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=43105 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA278 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to a fractured number 5 and number 6 cylinder connecting rods for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - engine assembly,connecting rod - fractured (cause) - engine assembly,crankcase - fractured (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - bridge/overpass (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was approximately 15 miles north of Bloomington, Indiana, cruising at 4,500 feet msl, when it began to vibrate excessively. The pilot looked at his oil pressure gage and found it reading zero. The pilot shut down the engine and began executing a forced landing to a field. The pilot said that when the airplane started to settle, he saw a guard rail by a road in front of him. The pilot pulled back in an attempt to clear the rail, but the airplane did not have enough airspeed. The airplane struck the guard rail and stopped. The pilot and passenger got out of the airplane before is caught fire and burned. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed that the number 5 and 6 cylinder connecting rods were broken. A six-inch by 4-inch hole was found in the top of the engine crankcase just above the number 5 and number 6 cylinders. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 1998, at 1026 eastern standard time (est), a Stinson 108-1, N483C, operated by a private pilot, was destroyed when during cruise flight the airplane's engine lost power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane struck a bridge guard rail. A post-impact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot and passenger on board sustained serious injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Pekin, Indiana, at 0820 est, and was en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In his written statement, dictated by the co-owner of the airplane, the pilot said that they were approximately 15 miles north of Bloomington, Indiana, cruising at 4,500 feet mean seal level (msl), when the airplane began to vibrate excessively. The pilot looked at his oil pressure gage and found it reading zero. The pilot shut down the engine and began executing a forced landing to a field. The pilot said that when the airplane started to settle, he saw a guard rail by a road in front of him. The pilot pulled back in an attempt to clear the rail, but the airplane did not have enough airspeed. The airplane struck the guard rail and stopped. The pilot and passenger got out of the airplane before is caught fire and burned. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at the accident site. The remains of the airplane rested against a guard rail located on top of the leeward side of a county road bridge. The propeller blades were bent aft. The airplane's cowling was crushed inward. The engine and firewall were intact and showed heat discoloration. The airplane's forward fuselage, cockpit area, aft fuselage just behind the cockpit, and inboard 5 feet of the right wing were melted and consumed by fire. The airplane's left wing was broken off at the attachment fittings and consumed by fire. The aft 4 feet of the airplane's fuselage and empennage were intact and undamaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed that the number 5 and 6 cylinder connecting rods were broken. A six-inch by 4-inch hole was found in the top of the engine crankcase just above the number 5 and number 6 cylinders. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N483C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N483C-1999-06-18), registration cancelled 1999-06-18, S/N 1083483 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-1 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (registry code 9230406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-3483 - Airframe hours: 2021 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Nisbet & Alfred Rall, Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 1998, 15 hours before - Departed: IN43, PEKIN, IN - Destination: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 30 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BMG, 11 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 19980727017989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980727017989A), Jul 27, 1998: Univar 1081, Bloomington, IN, Destroyed. Acft lost oil pressure, landed on a road, and hit a bridge, acft was destroyed. (.19)on July 27, 1998, at 1026 eastern standard time (EST), a Stinson 108-1,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 1998, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=43105. 807 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436743&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40094965&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Report (item 3, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436744&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Redacted.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.