Stinson 108 accident near North Pole, Alaska, April 25, 2025
On April 25, 2025 at about 11:00 am local time, a Stinson 108, registered N9308K, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near North Pole, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree. Contributing to the accident was his impairment from the effects of alcohol consumption.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2025 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N9308K · registry record · serial 2308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed an unknown airstrip and made an emergency landing at a US Army airfield. The left wing strut was substantially damaged and consistent with an impact with a tree. The pilot was uncooperative with first responders and smelled of alcohol and appeared to be under the influence. A police officer found an open container of alcohol in the airplane and transported the pilot to the hospital.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Alcohol › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from AEI, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAEI 251055Z 34004KT 10SM OVC095 02/M05 A2975 RMK AO2A SLP081 T00171055
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of the airplane and damage to left wingtip
Photograph 2 – Damage to windscreen and left side of fuselage
Photograph 3 – View of a stick lodged in the airframe around the windscreen
Photograph 4 – View of damage to left strut.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 11, 2025. 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 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.