- Date
- December 22, 1991, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Longmont, CO
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N97962Stinson 108-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911222057009A
- Case key
- 18185
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 due to fouled spark plugs. The inadequate maintenance of the engine was a factor in the accident.
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
On initial climb following takeoff, at a gross weight approximately 50 pounds over maximum, the airplane would neither climb nor accelerate. After turning crosswind at 250 feet AGL and 1/2 mile beyond the runway end, engine RPM began to 'creep down.' The pilot was unable to restore RPM, therefore, a forced landing was performed in a pasture. The airplane collided with a ditch and fence, nosed over, and caught fire. An engine examination revealed that the spark plugs were fouled, magneto impulse coupling weak, and rust and evidence of detonation was present in the cylinders and on piston domes, which degraded power available.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N97962
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-962
- Airframe hours
- 2,391
- Engine
- Franklin GA4-150-B3, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald Badtram/Stephen Innes
- Registered owner
- Donald Badtram/Stephen Innes
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 11, 1991
- Destination
- EMD · Emporia, KS
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,650 total · 35 in this make and model · 2,630 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 22,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N97962 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.