Stinson JR. SR accident near Ripon, Wisconsin, July 29, 2021
On July 29, 2021 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1933 Stinson JR. SR, registered N81Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Ripon, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2021 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ripon, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson JR. SR, built 1933 · all JR. SRs on the register
- Registration
- N81Y · registry record · serial 8729
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was in-bound to the destination airport when the engine lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a muddy field where the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the empennage. One fuel tank was empty and there was fuel staining on the soil. The pilot reported that the airplane should have had about 15 to 20 gallons of fuel remaining at the time of the accident. In a subsequent conversation, the pilot reported that the airplane had an “odd fuel system” and if the fuel level was low, the engine could experience fuel starvation due to decreased fuel pressure, to which he attributed the loss of engine power on the accident flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 187 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2021
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 680 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dekalb IL
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KOSH
Weather report (METAR): KOSH 291653Z 09008KT 10SM SCT031 27/22 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP125 T02720217
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 30, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintenance Record (Excerpt) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.