Stinson 108-2 accident near Cairn Mountain, Alaska, September 22, 1984
On September 22, 1984 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N8028K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cairn Mountain, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 22, 1984 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cairn Mountain, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N8028K · no longer on the register · serial 1083028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WALKED THE STRIP PRIOR TO STARTING THE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFTOFF THE ACFT BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT. BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE A CORRECTION THE TAIL OF THE ACFT STRUCK SOME TUNDRA AND THE ACFT DECELERATED AS IT DESCENDED BELOW THE RIDGELINE INTO SMALL TREES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 112 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 1984; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cairn Mountain AK
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.