Universal Stinson 108 accident near Portland, ME
On June 24, 2012, an Universal Stinson 108 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Portland, ME. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 24, 2012
- Place
- Portland, ME
- Aircraft
- Universal Stinson 108 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 43.621°N, 70.207°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120624X73746
Official records · ERA12LA411
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 24, 2012, about 1155 eastern daylight time, a Universal Stinson 108, N39443, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged while ditching in the Atlantic Ocean, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Portland, Maine. The private pilot was fatally injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed Twitchell Airport (3B5), Turner, Maine, about 1030. According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane was in radio and radar contact with Portland International Jetport (PWM), Portland, Maine, Approach Control. The airplane was flying along the coast near PWN, between 500 to 1,000 feet mean sea level (msl), from south to north. The pilot radioed that his intentions were to fly low for sightseeing and photography. At 1154, the pilot reported to PWM Approach that the airplane had experienced a total loss of engine power. At that time, the airplane was about 500 feet msl and the pilot indicated that he was not going to be able to glide the airplane far enough to reach the shore. The last radar target was recorded at 11:55:20, indicating an altitude of 200 feet msl. According to an FAA inspector, the airplane impacted water approximately 100 yards from the shore and sank to a depth about 70 feet. The pilot exited the airplane and was able to don a lifevest that was dropped from a nearby helicopter; however, he was not able to inflate it.
Probable cause
A fatigue failure of the No. 3 piston skirt, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and the subsequent ditching in the ocean.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
