Stinson 108-3 accident near Yakutat, Alaska, September 5, 2000
On September 5, 2000 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N603C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yakutat, Alaska (Yakutat Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. Factors associated with the accident were the oil sprayed windshield, the sunglare, and an object in the water which the pilot did not see.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2000 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Yakutat, Alaska · Yakutat Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N603C · registry record · serial 108-3603
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that while landing there was glare from the water, and oil spray on the windscreen. He described the seaplane touching down, and immediately flipping over. He stated that he does not know if he dragged one of the float tips in the water, or struck an object which he could not see in the sun glare. Postaccident inspection by an FAA inspector revealed damage to the right float bottom from possibly impacting an object in the water.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2000; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6AS-350-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CKU Cordova AK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 2Y3
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 7,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:37 pm from YAK, 4 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.