Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Stevens, Washington 98258
Saturday, August 28, 2010 13:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, after cruising for about 30 minutes, the engine suddenly lost all power. During the forced landing in an open field, the airplane impacted a fence and then the ground. An examination of the airplane revealed that the engine’s magneto switch had failed. The switch was original equipment in the airplane, which was manufactured 79 years prior to the accident. The pilot reported no known maintenance history or malfunction of the magneto switch prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight, which resulted from a magneto switch failure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lake Stevens
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98258
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480000N
Event Location Longitude 1215700W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29175
NTSB Notification Source Northwest Mountain Duty Office
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2011 4:55PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12164
NTSB Number WPR10LA432
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name STINSON
Aircraft Model JR. S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 8102
Certified Max Gross Weight 3265
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 28 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2058
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name LARSON GREGORY N
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SNOHOMISH
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98290-5033
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name MIKE P. ELLIS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lake Stevens
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98258
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code S43
Departure City Snohomish
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code S43
Destination City Snohomish
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2011 4:54PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --