dickbraswell

In the early years of my flying experiences, I purchased 1947 Stinson 108-3 “flying station wagon.”  It was seemingly in fair condition due to engine time and age, so this became the first four-place aircraft we owned.  It was located and tied down on the east side ramp, at the Mobile Regional Airport. 

Since we are in Hurricane Alley, one was headed our way surging north from the Gulf of Mexico.  Without the Stinson being safely hangered, it was in grave danger of being destroyed if left on the East Side Ramp at Mobile airport.  In order to safeguard it I ferried it to the Hattiesburg airport for safekeeping. 

When the storm passed, I picked up the Stinson from Hattiesburg and began a relatively short flight back to Mobile.  Since the weather was really great, I decided to fly directly south from Hattiesburg, intersect the Gulf Coast and then head east to Mobile.  The flight was wonderful… at 3000 feet and CAVU weather with bright sunshine. 

As I turned back east from Gulfport and flew NE to Mobile and was approximately 12-15 miles SE of the Mobile airport, there was an abrupt jolt as the 165 hp engine threw a rod and exploded out the side of the crankcase. Engine oil immediately spread over the windshield and the only good visibility was to look out the door window.  Total engine failure.  Now it was dead-stick flying and engine-out procedure to land and land very shortly.

Trying desperately to remember my emergency landing check list and procedure, my first priority, besides flying an engine-out airplane, was to locate an appropriate and safe landing location.  It just so happened I was about 3000 feet directly over a grass landing strip, often used for military training, at Saint Elmo, Alabama.  I had more than enough altitude to execute an approach and safe dead-stick landing.  When the old Stinson came to a stop, I opened the door, got out, laid down on my face and kissed the ground. A farmer nearby was plowing his field and witnessed the whole scenario.

Another mini-miracle

This entry was posted on July 6, 2024 at 9:04 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.