Stinson 108-2 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, September 9, 1999
On September 9, 1999, a Stinson 108-2, registered N97978, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood airport). It was an instructional 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
A partial failure of the brake system. A factor associated with the accident was a leaking brake system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1999
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · 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
- N97978 · registry record · serial 108-978
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first pilot, a certificated flight instructor, was providing tailwheel transition flight instruction to the second pilot, a certificated private pilot. The first pilot said that eight successful stop and go landings had been accomplished prior to the accident landing. He said that while landing on runway 19 and during the landing roll, the second pilot applied the brakes. The airplane subsequently ground looped to the right, and the left wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The first pilot said that brake pedals were only installed at the left side pilot position. After the accident, the second pilot related to the first pilot that during brake application, the left brake pedal 'felt mushy' and was less effective than the right brake. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the airplane at the accident airport, and reported signs of brake fluid leaking from the left brake assembly. He added that disassembly of the left brake assembly revealed 'severely weathered and worn seals.'
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1998; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCV Birchwood AK at 6:30 pm
- Destination: BCV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,010 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N97978 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.