Stinson 108 accident near Houston, Alaska, March 15, 2024
On March 15, 2024, a 1947 Stinson 108, registered N9041K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Houston, Alaska (9Ak7 airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 due to fuel starvation and the pilot's mismanagement of the available fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 2024
- Place
- Houston, Alaska · 9Ak7 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108, built 1947 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N9041K · registry record · serial 108-2041
- 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 this was his first flight of the season in a ski-equipped airplane, and that he filled one fuel tank with 20 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff. He stated the taxi was difficult due to unfavorable snow conditions, and he had to exit the airplane several times while taxiing. Prior to starting his takeoff run, he was frustrated and performed a mental checklist, not confirming the position of the fuel selector. He departed with the fuel selector on the empty fuel tank and shortly after takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing into trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and rudder. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Fuel starvation during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,047 hours in all; 1,009 in this make and model; 2,025 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 9, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,200.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 2,231 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Skwetna AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 am from AWS, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAWS 141156Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M09/M11 A2965 RMK AO2 SLP048 T10891106 11006 21089 56009 FZRANO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 2, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 ANC24LA020.