Stinson 108 accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico, July 31, 1988
On July 31, 1988, a Stinson 108, registered N97395, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lordsburg, New Mexico (Lordsburg Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 31, 1988
- Place
- Lordsburg, New Mexico · Lordsburg Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N97395 · no longer on the register · serial 108395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF THE PLANE SWERVED TO THE LT AND THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. ON THE SECOND TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE AGAIN SWERVED LT AND DEPARTED THE RWY. THE PLANE ENTERED LOOSE SAND OFF THE LT SIDE OF THE RWY AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE 10 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN THIS AIRPLANE. THE PLT SAID THAT HE FELT THE TAILWHEEL HAD STUCK OFF CENTER. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1988; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 150 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LSB at 8:14 pm
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.