Stinson 108 accident near Heyworth, Illinois, March 3, 1992
On March 3, 1992 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108, registered N97599, was substantially damaged in an accident near Heyworth, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN CARBURETOR ICE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF POWER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1992 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Heyworth, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N97599 · registry record · serial 108-599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 50 FT AGL, A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD DURING WHICH THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE HEAVILY SOOTED. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. AUTOMOTIVE GAS WAS BEING USED IN THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,667 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,667 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,019 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1991; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from BMI, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N97599 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI92LA102.