Stinson 108-1 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, April 8, 1992
On April 8, 1992, a Stinson 108-1, registered N97421, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mccarthy, Alaska (Mccarthy Nr2 airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW BERM AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION (SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANES).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1992
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · Mccarthy Nr2 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N97421 · registry record · serial 108-421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE PLOWED HALF OF THE RUNWAY THE RIGHT SKI CONTACTED THE EDGE OF THE SNOW BERM, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO GROUND LOOP. THE PILOT STATED THAT IN RETROSPECT SHE SHOULD HAVE LANDED ON THE UNPLOWED HALF OF THE RUNWAY.
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
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,741 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GKN Gulkana AK at 6:48 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,400 ft by 44 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 18°F (-8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.