Stinson 108-2 accident near Mosca, Colorado, May 13, 1988
On May 13, 1988 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N354C, was destroyed in an accident near Mosca, Colorado. 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).
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
- May 13, 1988 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Mosca, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N354C · registry record · serial 108-3354
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER PURCHASING ACFT, PLT AND PLT-RATED FRIEND (BOTH AIRLINE PLTS) WERE JOINED BY PLT'S WIFE AND DEPARTED FALCON FIELD, MESA, AZ, EN ROUTE TO MN. THE TRIO STOPPED IN ALAMOSA, CO, FOR NIGHT. THEY DEPARTED ALAMOSA (ELEVATION 7608 FT MSL) THE NEXT MORNING AND FLEW OVER GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL MONUMENT AND ENTERED MEDANO PASS. ACFT CRASHED IN VMC AT ABOUT THE 10,000-FT LEVEL, 30 MI FROM ALAMOSA. TERRAIN RISES RAPIDLY AT ABOUT 20 DEG ANGLE. AT TIME OF CRASH, PRESSURE ALTITUDE AT ALAMOSA AND CRASH SITE WERE COMPUTED TO BE 7238 FT AND 9630 FT MSL, RESPECTIVELY. ACFT RATE OF CLIMB WAS COMPUTED TO BE 195 FPM AND 70 FPM, RESPECTIVELY. ACFT WAS UNDER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND WITHIN C.G. LIMITS AT TAKEOFF AND AT IMPACT. SHORTLY AFTER CRASH, ACFT CAUGHT FIRE, FED BY CANS OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS IN BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,543 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ALS Alamosa CO at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from ALS, 34 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.