Universal Stinson 108-3 accident near Reidsville, South Carolina, August 25, 1984
On August 25, 1984 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Universal Stinson 108-3, registered N6771M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reidsville, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1984 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reidsville, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Universal Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6771M · no longer on the register · serial 108-4771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A LOW APPROACH TO A SLOPING AIRSTRIP WITH POWER LINES AT THE UPHILL END. A GO-AROUND WAS COMMENCED FROM A LOW PASS, BUT INSUFFICIENT CLIMB PERFORMANCE WAS AVAILABLE, AND A PULL-UP TO CLEAR THE OBSTRUCTION RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN THE HISH VEGITATION. THE PILOT STATED, 'I PLACED THE AIRCRAFT IN A SITUATION IT WAS NOT CAPABLE OF GETTING OUT OF.'
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: 155 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,988 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1984; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPA Spartanburg SC at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,750 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from GSP, 7 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.