Ryan NAVION A accident near De Funiak Spgs, Florida, September 2, 1991
On September 2, 1991 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION A, registered N5103K, was substantially damaged in an accident near De Funiak Spgs, Florida. 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE AND THE GROUND DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1991 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- De Funiak Spgs, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION A · all NAVION As on the register
- Registration
- N5103K · no longer on the register · serial 2003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENGINE QUIT WHILE PILOT WAS REDUCING POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. WHILE MANUEVERING FOR A FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHERE IT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND ACCESSORIES OR THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND. THE CAUSE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT USING THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP AS CALLED FOR IN THE AIRCRAFT OPERATING CHECKLIST FOR TAKEOFF AND DID NOT TURN IT ON AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 798 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,351 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1990; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,233 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from CEW, 25 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.