# NTSB ERA10LA442: Stinson 108, N97316, Andrews, SC, August 25, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2010, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Andrews, SC - Coordinates: 33.45, -79.526107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4500&lon=-79.5261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77090 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA442 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77090/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77090 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA442 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the student pilot's failure to adequately preflight the airplane prior to takeoff. ## 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 level (probable cause); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=9230412), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=9230412), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9230412), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=9230412), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9230412), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost power and collided with trees. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the left wing fuel tank and approximately 1 to 3 gallons of fuel in the right wing fuel tank. The airplane's certificate holder stated that the unusable fuel for the airplane's configuration was 2 gallons per tank. Had the student pilot checked the fuel tanks prior to takeoff, he would have noted that there was little fuel in the tanks. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2010, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Universal Stinson 108, N97316, received substantial damage when it collided with trees and subsequently the ground near the Robert F. Swinnie Airport (PHH), Andrews, South Carolina. The student pilot was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by the student pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The flight originated from PHH at an undetermined time. There were no witnesses to the accident. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found that the airplane impacted the ground about 100 to 200 yards left of the departure end of runway 18 in a densely wooded area. The airplane came to rest with the underside of the airplane resting up against a tree at approximately a 75-degree angle, left wing low and nose down. Examination of the wreckage found the majority of the airplane intact with the exception of the left and right wing tips, tail wheel, and the right main landing gear assembly. The impact with the ground shifted the nose of the airplane from the engine firewall forward to the left. Inspection of the cockpit found the push-pull tubes extended and bent over to the right. Examination of the wings revealed that the left fuel tank was void of fuel with no signs of fuel leakage. The right fuel tank contained a small amount of fuel; approximately 1 to 3 gallons. The engine fuel system was not examined due to impact damage. The damage to the engine and propeller was consistent with the engine not producing power at the time of impact. Universal Aircraft Corporation, Stinson technical support reported that the unusable fuel for each fuel tank for the airplane's configuration was 2 gallons. At the conclusion of the engine and airframe examination, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found. The pilot, age 66, held a student pilot certificate, which was issued on November 18, 2009. His most recent FAA third-class airman medical certificate was issued on the same date, with a restriction that he must wear corrective lenses. The pilot reported on his most recent medical that he had accumulated a total time in all airplanes of 200 hours. The pilot's personal logbook was not located. The airplane was a four-seat, high wing, fixed gear, single-engine airplane, serial number 108-316, airworthiness date September 18, 1955. It was powered by a Franklin 6A4165, 150-housepower engine. The review of the airplane's logbooks by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on May 6, 2010. A review of recorded weather data from the Georgetown County Airport (GGE) located 13 nautical miles southeast of the PHH automated weather observation station, elevation 27 feet, revealed at 1055, conditions were winds 020 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statutemiles, scattered clouds 1,100 feet above ground level, temperature 26 degrees Celsius, dew point temperature 23 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on August 26, 2010, by the Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, Charleston, South Carolina. The cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries. Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report indicated that there was no carbon monoxide or cyanide detected in blood, no ethanol detected in vitreous, and no drugs detected in urine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97316](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97316-2012-01-26), registration cancelled 2012-01-26, S/N 108-316, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STINSON 108 (3) - Registry model: [Universal Stinson 108](https://openairdocs.org/model/universal-stinson-108) (registry code 9230412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-316 - Engines: Franklin 6A4150 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2010 - Departed: PHH, Andrews, SC - Destination: PHH, Andrews, SC - Airport: PHH, Robert F. Swinnie ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: fatal; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: GGE, 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 20100825043079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100825043079A), Aug 25, 2010: Universal S 108, Andrews, SC, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On August 25, 2010, at approximately 1100 EDT, a Universal Stinson 108, N97316, owned and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77090. 2.9 MB in all. - Toxicological Report (item 1, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo. Aircraft as first observed. (item 2, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo.%20Aircraft%20as%20first%20observed.-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo, closeup of wreckage. (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351716&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo,%20closeup%20of%20wreckage.-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.