Stinson 108-1 accident near St. Charles, Michigan, August 4, 1988
On August 4, 1988 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N97797, was destroyed in an accident near St. Charles, Michigan (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- August 4, 1988 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Charles, Michigan · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N97797 · no longer on the register · serial 108-797
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB-OUT AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES LOCATED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE PRIVATE GRASS STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT FELL TO THE GROUND, WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE TEMPERATURE REPORTED BY THE OBSERVATION FACILITY AT SAGINAW, MICHIGAN (APPROXIMATELY 15 NM NORTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE) AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 96 DEGREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY WAITING UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN BEFORE DEPARTING.
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: 450 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from MBS, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.