# NTSB LAX96LA329: Stinson 108, N97337, Quincy, CA, September 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1996, 09:09 local (16:09 UTC) - Place: Quincy, CA - Coordinates: 39.959552, -120.999855 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9596&lon=-120.9999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29556/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA329 ## Probable cause the pilot's over leaning of the fuel mixture, which resulted in the initial loss of engine power; and continued fuel starvation, resulting from the pilot's inadvertent mispositioning of the fuel selector valve during an attempted restart of the engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command - fuel tank selector position - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - other ## Analysis The pilot leaned the engine before takeoff, but as the aircraft reached about 50 feet agl, the engine lost power. He switched tanks, enriched the mixture, pumped the throttle, and attempted to restart the engine. The engine started, but it ran for only a few seconds before quitting again. When his second attempted restart was unsuccessful, he executed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane hit a log and was damaged. The pilot said he could have induced the problem by over leaning the engine. He also said he could have restricted the fuel flow when he inadvertently moved the fuel selector beyond the tank detent. The aircraft was fueled with a mixture of aviation fuel and auto gas, but it did not have an STC for auto gas. The aircraft had not had an annual inspection within the previous 12 months, and the pilot's medical certificate had expired. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1996, at 0909 hours Pacific daylight time, a Stinson 108, N97337, experienced a power loss and forced landing after takeoff from Gansner Field, Quincy, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the private pilot received minor injuries. The aircraft was operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner when the accident occurred. The flight originated in McCall, Idaho, the day before the accident with an overnight stop in Denio, Nevada. The flight resumed at 0600 on the morning of the accident. The pilot landed at Gansner Field and was on departure when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported he leaned the engine prior to taking off on runway 24. The engine performed normally during the run-up and takeoff roll, but quit as the aircraft reached about 50 feet agl. He switched tanks, moved the mixture control to the full rich position, and pumped the throttle twice before attempting to restart the engine. On his first attempt, the engine started but ran only for a few seconds before quitting again. A second attempted restart was unsuccessful. He executed a forced landing in an open field on the opposite side of state highway 70. During the landing roll the aircraft struck a log with the right main gear. Damage to the aircraft included a collapsed right main gear, fuselage buckling aft of the main wings, and bent propeller blades. The pilot told FAA inspectors that he could have induced the problem initially by over leaning the engine. He also said that he could have restricted the fuel flow when he inadvertently moved the fuel selector beyond the tank detent position. During their postaccident examination, inspectors found no discrepancies in the fuel system, with fuel available in both tanks as well as in the carburetor. An inspection of the aircraft logbooks revealed that the aircraft had not undergone an annual inspection within the last 12 calendar months. In addition, the pilot reported that he was using a mixture of aviation fuel and auto gas. The aircraft did not have an STC authorizing the use of auto gas. The pilot was flying with an expired medical certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97337](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97337-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 108337, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108 - Registry model: [Stinson 108](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108) (registry code 9230402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108337 - Airframe hours: 2449 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Barry N. Mcpherson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1984, 337 hours before - Departed: 2O1 - Destination: 0Q3, SCHELLVILLESON, CA - Airport: 2O1, Gansner Field, runway 24, 4,100 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 606 total, 526 in this make and model, 539 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RBL, 70 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 19960908026369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960908026369A), Sep 8, 1996: Univar 1081, Quincy, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot leaned the engine before takeoff, but as the aircraft reached about 50 feet AGL, the engine lost power. He switched tanks, enriched the mixture,… 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.