Stinson 108 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, December 15, 1991
On December 15, 1991 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108, registered N767C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE FINAL APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE PERFORMING LANDINGS IN REDUCED LIGHT CONDITIONS, THE POOR LIGHT CONDITION AT DUSK, AND THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 1991 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N767C · registry record · serial 108-3767
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 30 FEET SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY IN ABOUT 2 FEET OF SNOW, THEN NOSED OVER ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE FLAT LIGHTING CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO HIS FINAL APPROACH ALTITUDE BEING TOO LOW. THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED HAVING A TOTAL OF 430 FLIGHT HOURS, OF WHICH ONLY 1.5 WAS AT NIGHT AS THE PIC. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 50 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET.
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: 430 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 391 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z15 Chugiak AK at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,010 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.