Stinson 108-2 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, July 7, 1995
On July 7, 1995 at about 5:35 am local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N257C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Airstrip 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'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT SWERVE, AND THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKE PRESSURE, WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE DOWN CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1995 · about 5:35 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N257C · registry record · serial 108-3257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT DURING THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF. THE PILOT STATED SHE ATTRIBUTED THIS TO WIND GUSTS FROM THE WEST (LEFT). DURING THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AGAIN AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, TOWARD SOME PARKED AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 310 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS.
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: 122 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,635 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 18, 1994; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z41
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 2,200 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°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.