ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 38831
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| Date: | Monday 5 September 1994 |
| Time: | 12:46 LT |
| Type: |  Stinson 108-3 |
| Owner/operator: | Gary D. Murdock |
| Registration: | N6446M |
| MSN: | 108-4446 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3534 hours |
| Engine model: | FRANKLIN 6AS-335-A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Shelter Cove, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | |
| Lodi, CA (1O3) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF, WITNESSES HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE ENGINE, AND THEN THE ENGINE SOUND STOPPED MOMENTARILY AND RESUMED. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT 180-DEGREE TURN. WHILE IN THE TURN, ANOTHER POWER INTERRUPTION OCCURRED BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED COMPLETELY. GROUND WITNESSES SAID THAT AFTER THE FINAL ENGINE STOPPAGE, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND SPUN INTO THE SHORELINE. HIGH TIDE CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO SHIFT BEFORE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE FUEL PRIMER CONTROL WAS FOUND UNLOCKED AND EXTENDED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK. ALTHOUGH BOTH MAIN FUEL TANKS HAD RUPTURED ON IMPACT, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FIRE DAMAGE AND HYDRAULIC DEFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIGHT MAIN TANK THAN THE LEFT. A COMPUTATION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION INDICATED THAT ABOUT 23 GALLONS OF FUEL HAD BEEN USED SINCE THE AIRPLANE WAS LAST REFUELED. THE CAPACITY OF EACH TANK WAS 23 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX94FA354
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 09-Apr-2024 19:29 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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