Stinson 108-2 accident near Aspen, Colorado, March 30, 1983
On March 30, 1983 at about 10:41 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N434C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aspen, Colorado (Aspen 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
- March 30, 1983 · about 10:41 pm local time
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado · Aspen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N434C · no longer on the register · serial 108-3434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE INBOUND, THE PLT CHECKED THE ATIS WHICH WAS REPORTING A WIND FROM 350 DEG AT 10 KTS. HE CONTINUED INBOUND, AND WHEN HE CHECKED WITH THE TOWER, THE WIND WAS FROM 350 DEG AT 6 KTS. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON THE RWY OF HIS CHOICE, HE STATED THAT HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 15 INSTEAD OF RWY 33, SINCE RWY I5 SLOPED UPHILL. REPORTEDLY, AT APRC 75 FT AGL, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE & A DOWNDRAFT OR WIND SHEAR. THE PLT APPLIED POWER, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A 3-POINT ATTITUDE, THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN TO ABOUT 30 FT AGL. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE LANDING SINCE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RWY REMAINING. HOWEVER, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AGAIN & THEN AFTER IT TOUCHED DOWN A GUST OF WIND WAS ALSO ENCOUNTERED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY ONTO SNOW COVERED TERRAIN & NOSED OVER.
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: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 165HC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIL Rifle CO
- Destination: ASE Aspen CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,001 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:46 pm from ASE
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.