Amateur-built STITS SKYCOUP accident near Conway, Arkansas, February 13, 1992
On February 13, 1992 at about 9:55 pm local time, a amateur-built STITS SKYCOUP, registered N92RL, was destroyed in an accident near Conway, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE WITH THE GUY WIRE. A FACTOR WAS THE FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 1992 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Conway, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STITS SKYCOUP STITS SKYC
- Registration
- N92RL · registry record · serial 33020RL
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE MANEUVERING BELOW 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A GUY WIRE THAT WAS SUSPENDED BETWEEN TWO POWER LINE TOWERS. THE POWER LOSS WAS CAUSED BY A STUCK OPEN FLOAT IN THE CARBURETOR WHICH RESULTED IN A FLOODED CARBURETOR.
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
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 223 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 5, 1991; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO3 at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from LIT, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.