What happened
The incident involved a Stinson aircraft operating as a charter for a local night sightseeing tour over the Pittsburgh area. At the time of the accident, the airplane carried one pilot and ten passengers. Shortly after departing the airport, while still in the initial climb phase, all three engines ceased functioning simultaneously. Following the total loss of power, the aircraft entered a stall and descended to the ground, resulting in a crash.
The impact was fatal for ten occupants. One female passenger, aged seventeen, survived the accident but sustained serious injuries. The event occurred during nighttime conditions, which complicated the situation for the crew attempting to manage the emergency.
Findings
Investigations into the cause of the engine failure indicated that the fuel supply had been cut off to all three engines. During the subsequent attempt to execute an off-airport forced landing in darkness, the pilot allowed the aircraft to lose flying speed, leading to the stall and crash.
The US Bureau of Air Commerce noted a specific contributing factor regarding the cockpit environment. It was determined that a passenger had been seated on two flare containers located in the cockpit area. The bureau considered it possible that this individual inadvertently switched off the fuel selector valve with her heel, thereby precipitating the loss of power and the subsequent crash.