Stinson 108-3 accident near Hendersonville, Tennessee, July 3, 2003
On July 3, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N6088M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hendersonville, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to loss of oil pressure for undetermined reasons, resulting in a forced landing and nose over on none suitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hendersonville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6088M · no longer on the register · serial 4088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 3,500 feet, about 17 miles from the destination airport when he noticed a slight decrease in engine rpm and oil pressure. He started his descent to his destination airport and started looking for a forced landing area. The rpm continued to decrease, and he elected to make a forced landing to a grassy field. He made a base leg, turned final, and lowered the flaps to the full down position. On touchdown the landing gear collided with ruts that he did not see from the air, and the airplane nosed over. Disassembly of the engine assembly showed three cylinders and three connecting rods had failed. The crankshaft journals were heavily scored and burned. Portions of two connecting rod bolts were recovered from the oil sump. The bolts had severe necking and had plasticized. The oil sump was removed to access the oil pump and lubrication pick-up screen. The screen was free of significant amounts of debris. The oil pump was removed and showed no signs of failure or contamination that would have caused failure to properly supply oil to the engine. The pressure regulator and pressure relief valve were examined and there was no evidence that either had failed. It could not be determined why the engine ceased oiling.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,111 hours in all; 223 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 949 as pilot in command; 454 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 20, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,697 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 2003; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M03 Conway AR at 5:15 pm
- Destination: M33 Gallatin TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from BNA, 12 miles away
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.