Stinson JR. S accident near Lake Stevens, Washington, August 28, 2010
On August 28, 2010 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Stinson JR. S, registered N12164, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lake Stevens, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 during cruise flight, which resulted from a magneto switch failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2010 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Stevens, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson JR. S · all JR. Ss on the register
- Registration
- N12164 · registry record · serial 8102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after cruising for about 30 minutes, the engine suddenly lost all power. During the forced landing in an open field, the airplane impacted a fence and then the ground. An examination of the airplane revealed that the engine’s magneto switch had failed. The switch was original equipment in the airplane, which was manufactured 79 years prior to the accident. The pilot reported no known maintenance history or malfunction of the magneto switch prior to the accident.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 606 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 515 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 15, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,058 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,265 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R680-13 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S43 Snohomish WA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 WPR10LA432.