Stinson 108-3 accident near Shelter Cove, CA
On September 5, 1994, a Stinson 108-3 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Shelter Cove, CA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 5, 1994
- Place
- Shelter Cove, CA
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.069°N, 123.919°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X02271
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 5, 1994, at 1246 Pacific daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N6446M, was destroyed by impact and postcrash ground fire during an attempted forced landing at Shelter Cove, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a cross-country flight to Lodi, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. The certificated private pilot and his three passengers sustained fatal injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to family members, the pilot had been on a 3-day vacation in Shelter Cove. The aircraft arrived on September 2, 1994, and was making a midday departure on a return flight to Lodi, California. The estimated flying time on the flight from Lodi was approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. The flying time on the return flight was estimated to be the same duration. The Shelter Cove airport is unattended and provides no fueling services. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft taking off from runway 12. One witness described the aircraft's initial climb as a "maximum performance takeoff," stating that the climb angle appeared steeper than normal. As the aircraft reached the end of the runway, several witnesses described hearing a "popping" sound from the engine. The witnesses then stated that the engine sound stopped momentarily, but then resumed almost immediately. The witnesses also reported that the nose of the aircraft momentarily pitched downward in unison with the abrupt engine stoppage and then pitched up again as the engi
Probable cause
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, IMPROPER (OR DELAYED) POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
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Browse: California · Stinson aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
