Stinson 108-2 accident near Cube Cove, Alaska, February 9, 1992
On February 9, 1992 at about 1:07 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N905D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cube Cove, Alaska (Cube Cove airport). It was a business 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
THE ENCOUNTER OF WINDSHEAR DURING THE FINAL APPROACH AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS BY ELECTING TO LAND DOWNWIND. FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1992 · about 1:07 pm local time
- Place
- Cube Cove, Alaska · Cube Cove
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N905D · no longer on the register · serial 108-2905
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS MAKING ITS FINAL APPROACH TO THE SOUTH OVER HIGH TERRAIN WHICH SLOPED DOWNWARD AND TOWARD THE AIRSTRIP, TO A POINT BELOW THE ELEVATION OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE TERRAIN DESCENDED TO ITS LOWEST POINT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD AND THEN ROSE UPWARD TOWARD THE AIRSTRIP. THE WIND WAS BLOWING FROM THE NORTH AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. WITNESSES STATED THEY FELT OCCASIONAL HIGHER GUSTS. AFTER MAKING THREE TO FOUR PASSES AND CIRCLES AROUND THE AIRSTRIP THE AIRPLANE'S FINAL APPROACH PATH WAS DOWNWIND AND DOWNHILL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND, A CLEAR CUT AREA, APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET SHORT AND 200 FEET TO THE WEST OF THE CENTER LINE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,955 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1991; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JNU Juneau AK at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°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.