Stinson 108 accident near Batesburg, South Carolina, July 23, 2022
On July 23, 2022 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108, registered N6020M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Batesburg, South Carolina. 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 fatigue failure of the crankshaft gear, resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2022 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Batesburg, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 3, built 1947 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N6020M · registry record · serial 108-4020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff the engine sustained a total loss of engine power caused by fatigue failure of the crankshaft gear, necessitating the pilot to perform an off-airport forced landing that resulted in substantial damage. The fatigue fracture initiated from multiple origins at a corner of a keyway cut in the gear. The crankshaft gear underwent magnaflux inspection and was approved for return to service associated with an engine overhaul nearly 8 years and 247 hours earlier. While there was no evidence of plating at the fatigue initiation site, it could not be determined from the available evidence whether the fatigue existed in the part at the last inspection or how fast the fatigue crack was growing.
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 (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng rear section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 590 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 519 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 2022; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6J4 Saluda SC at 5:50 pm
- Destination: CUB Columbia SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KAIK, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAIK 231755Z AUTO 20006KT 10SM SCT044 33/23 A3015 RMK AO2 T03260228 10328 20245
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 31, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Excerpts from Engine Logbook | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA 8130-3 Form Regarding Crankshaft Gear | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of NTSB Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record - Engine Examination Results | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 23-057 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15, and NTSB Evidence Control Forms | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.