Stinson 108-8 accident near Alexander Creek, Alaska, June 25, 2025
On June 25, 2025 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1946 Stinson 108-8, registered N97438, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexander Creek, Alaska (Roy'S Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s encounter with a downdraft that led to a rapid loss of altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2025 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alexander Creek, Alaska · Roy'S Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-8, built 1946 · all 108-8s on the register
- Registration
- N97438 · registry record · serial 108-438
- 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, while on final approach to a remote airstrip surrounded by trees, the airplane encountered a downdraft and began a rapid descent. He attempted to recover by increasing throttle and applying aft elevator input. However, the airplane impacted the ground at a flat, nose-level attitude and subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, right wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- 550096 during descent
- 550470 during descent
- 508400 during 508
- 508240 during 508
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Attain/maintain not possible
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 236.1 hours in all; 220.1 in this make and model; 2.5 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 17, 2022
- Medical certificate: class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,483 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, June 20, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-03 (piston); 257 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: BCV Birchwood AK at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway none, 1,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; scattered at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°C, dew point 48°C
- Altimeter: 29.709999 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from ABV, 31 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PABV 252056Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT065 BKN085 16/09 A2971 RMK AO2 SLP061 T01610094 55005
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 ANC25LA058.