Stinson 108-2 accident near Greencastle, Indiana, April 25, 1983
On April 25, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N9703K, was destroyed in an accident near Greencastle, Indiana (Greencastle airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 25, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greencastle, Indiana · Greencastle · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9703K · registry record · serial 108-2703
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED POWER LOSS AT ABOUT 300 FEET AGL AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT LANDED IN A CORNFIELD AFTER ATTEMPTING A RESTART OF THE ENGINE. THE PILOT HAD PUT 5 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT IN PREPARATION FOR A TEST FLIGHT. HE TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF ON THE NEARLY EMPTY LEFT TANK INTENDING TO SWITCH TO RIGHT TANK BEFORE TAKEOFF.HE TOLD A WITNESS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT HE FORGOT TO SWITCH TANKS BEFORE THE ENGINE QUIT. AFTER ENGINE STOPPAGE, HE CHANGED TANKS, BUT COULD NOT GET A RESTART.
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: 454 hours in all; 387 in this make and model; 380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1983; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 417 Greencastle IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.