Stinson 108-2 accident near Huntersville, North Carolina, May 22, 1987
On May 22, 1987 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N9796K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huntersville, North Carolina (Bradford Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- May 22, 1987 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Huntersville, North Carolina · Bradford Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9796K · no longer on the register · serial 1082796
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO SIMULATE AN ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RWY 06, AT ABOUT 400-500 FT AGL. HE SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARD THE ARPT TO PRACTICE A SIMULATED FORCED LDG, AND THE ACFT SINK RATE INCREASED TO A GREATER RATE THAN 'EXPECTED'. HE THEN ADDED FULL THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE ACFT IMPACTED GRASSY TERRAIN SHORT OF AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY, AND SLID ABOUT 130 FEET. A POST-CRASH FIRE ENSUED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD 11 TOTAL FLT HRS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL, ALL OF WHICH WERE OBTAINED IN THIS ACFT. HE NOTED THAT THE ACFT HAD SAT UNUSED FOR THREE YEARS PRIOR TO HIS PURCHASING IT, AND THAT IT HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION A WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE CARBURETOR WAS REPORTEDLY EQUIPPED WITH A 'LEATHER-SKIRT' TYPE ACCELERATOR PUMP.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,974 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 195 in the last 90 days; 4,877 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1987; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4165 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,850 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.