Stinson 108 accident near Dodge Center, Minnesota, July 22, 2016
On July 22, 2016 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108, registered N8019K, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Dodge Center, Minnesota (Dodge Center Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2016 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dodge Center, Minnesota · Dodge Center Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 2, built 1947 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N8019K · registry record · serial 108-3019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that, about 30 minutes into the cross-country flight, while cruising at 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine began to lose power, decreasing from about 2,350 rpm to about 2,100 rpm. The pilot pulled the carburetor heat to the on position for a few seconds, then pushed it back in to turn it off. The pilot then diverted to a nearby airport; however, the engine continued to lose power and the pilot chose to land in a field next a road. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that could have resulted in the loss of engine power. Given the temperature and dew point in the area about the time of the accident, the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the development of light carburetor icing at cruise or descent power. It is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor ice, and the pilot's brief application of carburetor heat was insufficient to clear the ice from the carburetor, which resulted in a further loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Not used/operated
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,231 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4165 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKT Mankato MN at 4:30 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from TOB, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.