Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR accident near Newnan, Georgia, July 26, 2014
On July 26, 2014 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 1942 Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, registered N59418, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Newnan, Georgia (Panther Creek Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2014 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Newnan, Georgia · Panther Creek Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR, built 1942 · all ST3KRs on the register
- Registration
- N59418 · no longer on the register · serial 2168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the accident flight was the airplane's first flight following an annual inspection. The private pilot and passenger departed on the personal flight and flew about 35 nautical miles to a private airstrip. A witness reported seeing the airplane conduct a low pass over the runway and then enter a climb. As the airplane climbed through about 200 ft above ground level, the engine experienced a sudden loss of power, and the airplane subsequently descended into trees. Video footage from the witness's cell phone corroborated his statement. Postaccident examination revealed that the engine turned freely by hand when the propeller was rotated, and compression was established on the Nos. 1, 4, and 5 cylinders. No compression was established on the Nos. 2 and 3 cylinders. The No. 3 cylinder was impact-damaged. Examination of the No. 2 cylinder revealed an improperly adjusted intake valve set screw, which prevented the intake valve from closing completely. The No. 2 cylinder set screw was readjusted, and the intake valve subsequently closed normally, and compression was established. However, if the set screw had been set improperly before the flight, the engine problem should have been present throughout the flight rather than developing later in the flight; therefore, the effect of the improperly set screw on the engine performance could not be determined.
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 maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2014; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R5 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RYY Atlanta GA
- Destination: 17GA Newnan GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from CCO, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA14LA360.