Stinson 108-1 accident near Gallup, New Mexico, September 8, 1990
On September 8, 1990 at about 8:59 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8631K, was destroyed in an accident near Gallup, New Mexico (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLING HIS AIRCRAFT AT AN INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO EFFECT A RECOVERY. A FACTOR WAS HIGH DENSITY ATTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1990 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Gallup, New Mexico · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8631K · no longer on the register · serial 108-3381
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF. IN ADDITION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN 25 POUNDS OF MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED CLIMBING TO ABOUT 100 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE, ENTERED A STEEP BANK, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 9,100 FEET.
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: 481 hours in all; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 447 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: INW Winslow AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 6,298 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:59 pm from GUP, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.