Universal Stinson 108 accident near Farmington, North Carolina, June 3, 2025
On June 3, 2025 at about 3:45 pm local time, a 1946 Universal Stinson 108, registered N40158, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmington, North Carolina (Sugar Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2025 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Farmington, North Carolina · Sugar Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Universal Stinson 108, built 1946 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N40158 · no longer on the register · serial 108-88
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 3, 2025, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Universal Stinson 108 airplane, N40518 was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Farmington, North Carolina. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and one passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane departed runway 2 at the Sugar Valley Airport (5NC2), Mocksville, North Carolina, and flew around the traffic pattern. Upon turning base leg for runway 2, the UNICOM operator, who was looking out the airport office window facing southeast, advised the pilot that there was a turtle on the runway. According to the UNICOM operator, the pilot landed about 1,400 ft down the 2,424 ft runway and then lifted the right main wheel to avoid the turtle. The UNICOM operator stated that she heard the pilot advance the throttle after he raised the right wheel. The airplane left her point of view, and she was unable to see the airplane after that. A man cutting the grass at the end of runway 2 reported that he saw the turtle on the runway and the pilot raised the right wheel to avoid the turtle. After that, the wings began to rock back and forth. Then the airplane took off again, but he lost site of the airplane when it passed behind a hangar. The airplane disappeared just over the trees on the northeast side of the runway and then he heard a loud crash and saw smoke. The airplane impacted a heavily forested area about 255 ft northeast of the departure end of runway 2. A post impact fire ensued. The airplane came to rest on a heading of about 100°. The airplane was wedged between several trees and remained in one piece except for a few pieces of fabric that were found in an adjacent stream next to the accident site. The fabric on the fuselage, cowling, and wings was completely burned off and the airplane frame was visible. The fabric on the vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilizer was intact; however, parts of the vertical stabilizer fabric were melted. The metal rudder and elevator were not fire damaged. The airplane came to rest on its left side with the left wing folded underneath the fuselage and the right wing bent aft. Control cable continuity was confirmed to the rudder, elevator, and right aileron. Due to impact damage, cable continuity could not be confirmed to the left aileron or flaps. The airplane wreckage and engine were retained for further examination.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,424 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KINT, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KINT 031554Z 20005KT 10SM OVC041 25/12 A3023
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN25FA194.