Stinson 108-2 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, June 3, 1989
On June 3, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N9642K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Lake Lucille airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FAILED TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT WITHIN ITS RECOMMENDED PARAMETERS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A STALL-SPIN INTO THE WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Lake Lucille
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9642K · no longer on the register · serial 108-2642
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM THE WATER, THIS PRIVATE PILOT EXECUTED A LOW ALTITUDE STEEP LEFT TURN WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL-SPIN INTO THE LAKE. NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATED PRE-ACCIDENT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL, ENGINE, OR AIRFRAME WERE NOTED. NO MEDICAL FACTORS WERE IDENTIFIED WHICH COULD BE CONSIDERED CASUAL.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 501 hours in all; 268 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,401 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1989; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,160 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-MCR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LHD Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 10,000 ft by 500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.