Stinson 108 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, March 14, 2008
On March 14, 2008, a Stinson 108, registered N6827M, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Chugiak, Alaska (Bichwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The reversal of the aileron control cables by maintenance personnel, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2008
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Bichwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N6827M · registry record · serial 108-4827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot was departing on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, local area flight. It was the first flight after an extensive rebuild, and annual inspection of the airplane. The pilot said he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane using its checklist, and had several maintenance items corrected before takeoff. He said that as the airplane became airborne, it immediately rolled to the left, and the left wing struck the runway. He pulled the engine power to idle, but was unable to correct the roll. The airplane pivoted to the left and nosed over. A postaccident inspection of the airplane by the pilot, maintenance personnel, and an FAA inspector, revealed that the aileron control cables were misrouted, and the aileron's direction of travel was reversed.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Aileron control system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,957 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2008; 0 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABV Chugiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 6:36 pm from PABV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ANC08CA043.