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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2016 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Calverton, New York · Calverton Executive Airpark · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA16LA173.