Rockwell International STINSON 108 accident near Near Sparrevohn, Alaska, October 2, 1982
On October 2, 1982 at about 8:18 am local time, a Rockwell International STINSON 108, registered N97451, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Sparrevohn, Alaska. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1982 · about 8:18 am local time
- Place
- Near Sparrevohn, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International STINSON 108 STINSON 10
- Registration
- N97451 · no longer on the register · serial 108451
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER SHOOTING A MOOSE IN THE MORNING, QUARTERING THE ANIMAL AND CARRYING THE MEAT TO THE AN UNIMPROVED LANDING/TAKEOFF AREA HE WALKED BACK TO HIS CABIN FOR HIS AIRCRAFT. UPON HIS RETURN, HE LANDED AND LOADED 2 QUARTERS INTO THE BACK SEAT. IT WAS NOW 5:30PM AND STARTING TO SNOW. HE TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF WITHOUT ACCOMPLISHING A RUN-UP. WHILE TAXIING HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WITH THE WINDSHIELD FOGGING AND ALTHOUGH IN A HURRY MANAGED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN HE REACHED THE END OF THE STRIP HE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY DURING TAKEOFF AND SETTLED BACK TO THE SURFACE AT THE END OF THE STRIP. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT CARBURETOR ICE AND ROUGH RUNWAY CONTRIBUTED TO THE LACK OF ACCELERATION.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 159 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 124 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 145 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-435C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Near Sparrevohn AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 033° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.