Stinson 108-2 accident near Shishmaref, Alaska, July 1, 1995
On July 1, 1995 at about 5:30 am local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N9600K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shishmaref, Alaska (Serpentine Hot Springs 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, WHILE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO LOWER THE FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1995 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Shishmaref, Alaska · Serpentine Hot Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9600K · no longer on the register · serial 108-2600
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH HIS TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE FROM A ROUGH, PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS BOUNCING DURING THE PRETAKEOFF TAXI, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE CHECKLIST. HE SAID HE NEGLECTED TO LOWER THE WING FLAPS, AND THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO BECOME AIRBORNE BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSING OVER. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO HIS FORGETTING TO LOWER THE FLAPS. HE ALSO NOTED THAT GUSTING WINDS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WERE CAUSING LOCALIZED DOWNDRAFTS.
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: 92 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OTZ Kotzebue AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 1,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.