Ryan ST3-KR accident near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1995
On July 21, 1995 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Ryan ST3-KR, registered N47082, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (Whittle airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the no. 3 cylinder connecting rod.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1995 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kennett Square, Pennsylvania · Whittle · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST3-KR
- Registration
- N47082 · registry record · serial 1443
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning to the departure airport after a 2 1/2 hour flight. Several miles from the airport, the engine began to run rough, followed by complete loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a private sod strip. On final, after the aircraft cleared trees, the pilot was not able to arrest the descent rate, and the landing gear collapsed during touchdown. The engine was a Kinner R-56 manufactured in 1946, and had accumulated about 120 hours since overhaul. Examination of the engine revealed that the number three cylinder connecting rod failed at the knuckle pin.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1995; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-56 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N57 Toughkenamon PA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.