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Accidents · NTSB CHI89LA108 · Final report

Stinson 108-2 accident near Cedar, Michigan, June 11, 1989

On June 11, 1989 at about 1:50 am local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N151C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

PILOT IN COMMAND ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH TOO HIGH AN AISPEED AND WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO ALLOW EITHER A GO AROUND OR THE ABILITY TO BRING THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP IN THE SPACE REMAINING.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 11, 1989 · about 1:50 am local time
Place
Cedar, Michigan · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
Registration
N151C · registry record · serial 108-3151
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING THE GO-AROUND ATTEMPT FOLLOWING A BALKED LANDING THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO CLEAR THE EMBANKMENT LOCATED ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 2,100 FOOT SOD RUNWAY. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED AS IT STRUCK THE EMBANKMENT AND THE AIRPLANE SKIPPED ACROSS A ROAD AND SKIDDED TO A STOP IN A FIELD.

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: 113 hours in all; 34 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection; 22 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0, 2,100 ft by 60 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: dusk
  • Visibility: 20 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers3

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.

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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CHI89LA108.