Stinson 108-3 N6446M
5 September 1994 · Shelter Cove, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 5 September 1994 at about 19:46 local time, a Stinson 108-3 registered N6446M, operated by Gary D. Murdock, was involved in an accident near Shelter Cove, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:46
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Shelter Cove, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Shelter Cove (0Q5)
- Coordinates
- 40.0694, -123.9194
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3
- Registration
- N6446M
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Gary D. Murdock
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Lodi
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94FA354
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Stinson 108 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 1994 | Stinson 108-1 | Rubidoux, California, United States | Milford W. Donaldson | No injuries | - |
| 19 Oct 1994 | Stinson 108-2 | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1994 | Stinson 108-3 | Ione, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1994 | Stinson 108-3 | Redlands, California, United States | Hinsdale, Terry L. | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Aug 1994 | Stinson 108-3 | Bend, Oregon, United States | Love, Janet E. | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 1994 | Stinson 108-3 | Ramona, California, United States | Bernhard O. Peterson | No injuries | - |
All 1,217 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |