# NTSB MIA92LA180: D.W. Owens Stitts SA3B, Winter Haven, FL, March 1, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1992, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Winter Haven, FL
- Coordinates: 28.039777, -81.720268 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0398&lon=-81.7203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33134
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33134/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA180

## Probable cause

FUEL CONTAMINATION AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE AIRPORT PROPERTY.

## 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
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - pull-up - performed, pilot in command
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT, TOOK OFF, FLEW AROUND THE ARPT TRAFFIC PATTERN, LANDED, THEN BOARDED A PAX.  THE FLT TOOK OFF AGAIN & THE ENG QUIT WHEN THE FLT WAS APRX 200 FT AGL.  THE PLT RESTARTED THE ENG BUT IT WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER.  WHILE RETURNING THE ACFT STALLED BUT THE PLT RECOVERED.  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON THE ARPT PROPERTY, HE PULLED UP TO CLEAR OBSTACLES WHICH WERE AHEAD BUT THE ACFT STALLED AGAIN & IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AN ACFT MECHANIC DRAINED A SMALL QUANTITY OF FUEL FROM THE TANK, WHICH WAS TESTED & FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: D.W. OWENS STITTS SA3B (STITTS SA3)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: DO-11738
- Airframe hours: 130
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-11 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Deal, Carl P.
- Registered owner: See Narrative
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 19, 1990, 15 hours before
- Departed: GIF
- Airport: GIF, Winter Haven'S Gilbert

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 40 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL, 15 nm away

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.

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