Stinson 108 accident near Austin, Texas, October 18, 2016
On October 18, 2016 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 1946 Stinson 108, registered N97634, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Austin, Texas (Austin Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2016 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Austin Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 UNDESIGNAT, built 1946 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N97634 · registry record · serial 108-634
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land the airplane after a cross-country flight. The pilot reported that he experienced difficulty controlling the airplane on the first attempted landing and conducted a go-around. During the second approach, the wind sheared at altitude, and the pilot had control problems. When the airplane touched down, he applied the left brake while pulling completely aft on the flight control yoke. The airplane rolled left, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage. The wind was recorded from 200° at 14 kts with gusts to 18 kts. It is likely the pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing with gusting wind conditions.
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 control on ground during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4150 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1TE4 Marion TX
- Destination: EDC Austin TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,550 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 113°F (45°C), dew point 109°F (43°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KEDC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 18, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary -- C Wehrmann FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Pilot Sent 6120 Twice -- No Completed Reports Returned | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | CEN17LA023 - Factual Revision | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.