Ryan ST-3KR accident near Anacortes, Washington, May 11, 1992
On May 11, 1992 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Ryan ST-3KR, registered N4223P, was destroyed in an accident near Anacortes, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT COUNTERWEIGHT CAP SCREWS AND SEPARATION OF THE COUNTERWEIGHT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESIDENTIAL AREA AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1992 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Anacortes, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan ST-3KR
- Registration
- N4223P · registry record · serial 1691
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TURNING FROM TAKEOFF LEG TO CROSSWIND WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING ON A STREET IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE ACFT IMPACTED AN EMBANKMENT BESIDE THE STREET, SKIDDED ONTO THE STREET, GROUND LOOPED, AND WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE AFT CRANKSHAFT COUNTERWEIGHT AND NO. 5 CYLINDER SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. METALURGICAL EXAM OF THE CRANKSHAFT ASSY REVEALED FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE COUNTERWEIGHT CAP SCREWS.
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: 3,200 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,880 as pilot in command; 351 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,203 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1991; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,885 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R-55 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 74S Anacortes WA at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from NUW, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.