Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 17, 2020 · Stinson 108 2 · N336C

Newport, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 17, 2020
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Newport, PA
Aircraft
Stinson 108 2 (1947)
Tail Number
N336C
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA20LA320

The flight instructor stated that he and the pilot fueled the airplane, departed, and flew for about 1.5 hours when, while cruising at 3,500 ft, the engine “started to sputter.” He checked the magnetos, adjusted the mixture, switched fuel tanks, and pumped the primer and throttle. When he pumped the primer, the engine would “run for about 5 seconds then quit,” and the propeller continued to windmill. Unable to restore power to the engine, he elected to execute a forced landing to a field. During the landing rollout, the airplane impacted a berm resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that although the cockpit mixture knob was set to full rich, the carburetor mixture control cable was disconnected at the carburetor and the carburetor mixture lever on the carburetor was in idle cutoff position. The hardware that would have attached these components was not located. Given this information, it is likely that hardware holding the mixture control cable to the mixture control arm loosened and departed during flight, allowing the disconnected mixture control arm to migrate to the cut-off position, resulting in a total loss of engine power. Since both the accelerator pump and the primer system bypass the carburetor and delivers some fuel directly to the engine even when the mixture control is in the “cutoff” position, this would explain why the instructor reported momentary bursts of power when he pumped the primer or throttle.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a disconnected carburetor mixture control cable which allowed the carburetor mixture lever to migrate to the cut-off position during flight.

Full Narrative

On September 17, 2020, at 1254 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108-2 airplane, N336C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Newport, Pennsylvania. The flight instructor sustained minor injuries and the pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, he and the pilot fueled the airplane, departed, and flew for about 1.5 hours when, while cruising at 3,500 ft, the engine “started to sputter.” He checked the magnetos, adjusted the mixture, switched fuel tanks, and pumped the primer and throttle. When he pumped the primer, the engine would “run for about 5 seconds then quit,” and the propeller continued to windmill. Unable to restore power to the engine, he elected to execute a forced landing to a field. During the landing rollout, the airplane impacted a berm. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that it was intact and came to rest upright. The main landing gear collapsed, and the firewall and forward fuselage were impact damaged. One propeller was bent aft and exhibited chordwise scratching. The inspector noted fuel in both wing tanks and the fuel appeared absent of water and debris. The cockpit mixture control was selected to full rich (IN). The engine and its accessories were examined under the supervision of an FAA inspector in the field at the accident site, and again after the airplane was recovered to a hangar. The spark plugs were removed and visually examined with no anomalies noted. Both magnetos were present and securely installed and connected. The magneto to engine timing was within specifications and both magnetos produced spark at all towers when rotating the engine by hand. Rotation of the engine’s crankshaft produced compression on all cylinders, and normal valvetrain movement was observed when the crankshaft was rotated. Fuel was present throughout the fuel system and was absent of water and debris. Fuel was also present in the gascolator and the carburetor float bowl. Air was blown through the fuel cap vent tubes to the carburetor fuel supply hose and the vents and fuel lines were found to be free of obstruction. The carburetor screen was free from obstruction. The carburetor mixture control cable was found disconnected at the carburetor. The carburetor mixture lever on the carburetor was found in idle cutoff position. The attaching hardware that would have connected the mixture control cable connector fitting to the carburetor mixture arm was not located.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:54 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftStinson 108 2
Tail NumberN336C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFranklin · 6A4-165-B4 · Reciprocating · 165
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 72 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 32 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility9 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter30.03 inHg
Observation Time16:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data