# NTSB ERA15LA201: Universal Stinson 108-1, N9799G, Macon, MS, April 16, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2015, 19:00 local (Apr 16, 2015, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Macon, MS - Coordinates: 33.105834, -88.556388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1058&lon=-88.5564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91098 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91098/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91098 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA201 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=9230414), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=9230414), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=9230414), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9230414), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Universal Stinson 108-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9230414), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot departed on a short personal flight to a private runway in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. He reported that the engine began to run roughly and lost partial power as the airplane neared the destination. Realizing that he would not be able to reach the runway, he chose to perform a precautionary landing to a nearby road. The pilot stated that, during the landing approach, he did not observe any traffic on the road; however, the airplane touched down and came to rest on top of a truck, resulting in substantial damage. The engine was not examined after the accident; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. A carburetor icing probability chart indicated a potential for serious icing at glide power given the weather conditions at the time of the accident; however, the pilot did not indicate if he used carburetor heat during the flight. Thus, it could not be determined whether carburetor icing contributed to the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2015, about 1900 central daylight time, a Universal Stinson 108-1, N9799G, was substantially damaged when it contacted a vehicle during a precautionary landing on a road near Macon, Mississippi. Neither the private pilot onboard the airplane nor the driver of the vehicle were injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Macon Municipal Airport (20M), about 1845 and was destined for a private runway also located in Macon.The pilot reported that he was nearing his destination when the engine began to run rough. Realizing he would not be able to reach the runway, he elected to perform a precautionary landing to a nearby road. The pilot stated that, throughout the landing approach, he did not observe any traffic on the road; however, the airplane touched down and came to rest on top of a truck, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing strut. The pilot did not indicate whether he had applied carburetor heat during the flight. There was no examination of the airplane or engine following the accident. The pilot reported that he departed on the flight with 30 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued in January 2015. He reported 673 total hours of flight experience, of which 570 hours were in the accident airplane. The tailwheel-equipped airplane was manufactured in 1947 and was equipped with a Franklin 6A4-150-B3, 150-horsepower reciprocating engine. The pilot reported that the airplane's total airframe and engine time was 1,101.7 hours. The most recent annual inspection was completed on February 16, 2015, about 11 flight hours before the accident. The weather conditions reported at Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR), Columbus, Mississippi, at 1850 included wind from 170° at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 6,000 ft above ground level, temperature 24°C, dew point 17°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury. A carburetor icing probability chart indicated a potential for serious icing at glide power given the atmospheric conditions present at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9799G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9799G-2018-03-15), registration cancelled 2018-03-15, S/N 108-993, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: UNIVERSAL STINSON 108-1 - Registry model: [Universal Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/universal-stinson-108-1) (registry code 9230414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-993 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 1101.7 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4150 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 2015 - Departed: 20M, Macon, MS - Destination: n/a, Macon, MS - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review November 1, 2014; flight hours: 673 total, 570 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KGTR, 21 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 20150415009739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150415009739A), Apr 15, 2015: Universal Stinson 108-1, Macon, MS, Substantial damage. According to the pilot of the aircraft, he stated the engine running rough. He determined he could not make it to his distination and began to search for a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91098. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 419 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479627&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.