Stinson 108-3 accident near Aurora, Colorado, April 12, 1989
On April 12, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N993C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Colorado (Aurora 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 INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT IS CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Colorado · Aurora · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N993C · no longer on the register · serial 1083993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PLT/A&P/IA WAS COMPLETING OVER HAUL AND RESTORATION OF THE STINSON. ACCORDING TO THE PRIVATE RATED PAX, THE PLT DECIDED TO TAKE THE PLANE AROUND THE PATTERN FOR A TEST FLIGHT. THE PLT SAID IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT THAT NO FLIGHT WAS INTENDED. BOTH THE PLT AND THE PAX AGREE THAT DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, A STRONG GUST HIT THE PLANE, RAISING THE RIGHT WING. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE TERRAIN, AND THE ACFT CARTWHEELED. THE FUSELAGE, BOTH WING SPARS, AND THE STABILATOR WERE BROKEN. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN MOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE TO THE REAR OF A HANGAR, STRIPPED OF ALL INSTRUMENTATION, AND ABANDONED. WITNESSES AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THE ACCIDENT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PLT DID NOT REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO THE NTSB OR FAA UNTIL CONTACTED BY LETTER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT A 'DUST DEVIL' STRUCK THE AIRCRAFT BUT THE PAX AND WITNESSES REPORTED A STRONG GUST.
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: 548 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 01V at 5:00 pm
- Destination: O1V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.