- Date
- August 1, 1993, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Osceola, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4021CStinson 108-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930801027089A
- Case key
- 18804
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
Inadvertent stall. Factors were the improper latching of the engine cowling by the pilot and his inadequate preflight inspection.
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
During the takeoff initial climb, the right half of the engine cowling came loose. The pilot stated to the investigator in charge that he improperly latched the cowling on the preflight. A turn was initiated toward the airport and on a 45 degree angle to the runway the airplane stalled and impacted the terrain short of the runway.
Factual narrative
On August 1, 1993, at approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Stinson 108-3 airplane, N4021C, sustained substantial damage near Osceola, Arkansas, during approach. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight.
The Pilot/Operator report submitted to the Safety Board and a personal interview conducted by the investigator in charge revealed the following information. During a cross country flight a routine refueling stop was made at Osceola, Arkansas. As the air speed increased during the initial takeoff climb, the right half of the engine cowling came loose. The pilot observed the engine cowling chaffing against the windshield plexiglass. A 180 degree turn toward the airport was initiated by the pilot. During the approach, the airplane stalled and impacted the terrain short of the runway. The pilot stated that he had checked and filled the engine oil and had improperly latched the cowling during the preflight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4021C
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-5021
- Airframe hours
- 1,260
- Engine
- Franklin GA4-165-B3, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Wissman, John C.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 30, 1992 · 100 hours before
- Airport
- 7M4 · Osceola Municipal, runway 18, 3,800 × 40 ft, asphalt
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
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 155 total · 150 in this make and model · 155 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.