Universal Stinson 108 accident near Calverton, New York, April 30, 2016
On April 30, 2016 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1947 Universal Stinson 108, registered N8660K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Calverton, New York (Calverton Executive Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2016 · about 2:00 pm local time · cases in 2016
- Place
- Calverton, New York · Calverton Executive Airpark · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Universal Stinson 108, built 1947 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N8660K · no longer on the register · serial 108-1660
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that, during climbout at an altitude of about 1,200 ft mean sea level, the engine began to run roughly as though it had a partially fouled spark plug. He decided to perform a precautionary landing at a nearby airport with an asphalt runway that was 10,000 ft long and 200 ft wide. During the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, which resulted in a ground loop. The airplane came to rest in the grass on the left side of runway. Although the wind conditions at the landing airport were not recorded, the recorded wind at a nearby airport about the time of the accident was variable at 5 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 601 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 557 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,485 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 29, 2015; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4150 SERIES (piston); 2,485 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 49N East Moriches NY at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 49NY Shelter Island NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 10,001 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KHWV, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 18, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8660K: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Universal Stinson 108 134 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Universal Stinson 134 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Franklin 6A4150 SERIES 623 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Westmoreland Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in New York 1,964 since 1982 · 248 in the last ten years
- New York 6,661 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA16LA173.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.