Stinson 108 accident near Spanishburg, West Virginia, November 16, 1991
On November 16, 1991 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108, registered N97684, was destroyed in an accident near Spanishburg, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW CEILING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spanishburg, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N97684 · no longer on the register · serial 108-684
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA TO CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT DESCENDED THROUGH AN OVERCAST AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED A COMPUTER RADAR WEATHER REPORT IN STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH WAS REPORTING 4500 FEET CEILING AND 20 MILES VISIBILITY. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, WHILE EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT CLIMBED AS HIGH AS 9000 FEET TO AVOID THE CLOUDS. AFTER CROSSING THE FIRST MOUNTAIN RIDGE, HE DESCENDED TO 500 FEET. HE STATED THAT HE SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO 70 KNOTS AND CONTINUED HIS DESCENT SO AS TO REGAIN SIGHT OF THE GROUND. THE NEAREST WEATHER STATION, ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY, REPORTED THE WEATHER AS OBSCURED SKY AND ONE-EIGHT OF A MILE VISIBILITY IN LIGHT DRIZZLE AND FOG.
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: 172 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 1901; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4150-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Statesville NC at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Mercer County WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from BLF, 10 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.