Stinson 108-2 accident near Martinsville, Virginia, November 30, 2023
On November 30, 2023 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108-2, registered N9564K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Martinsville, Virginia (Blue Ridge airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a wheel landing in crosswind conditions and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a ground loop on the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 2023 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Martinsville, Virginia · Blue Ridge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2, built 1947 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9564K · registry record · serial 108-2564
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was flying with a flight instructor and was working towards his tailwheel endorsement. During a wheel landing attempt with a direct crosswind from the left, the airplane swerved, and the pilot attempted to make a correction by applying right rudder. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped before the flight instructor could take control of the airplane, and the left wing and left elevator struck the runway surface. Following the ground loop, the pilot continued the taxi to the ramp without further incident. The fuselage, left wing, and left elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot and flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 211 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 121 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 24, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 28,542 hours in all; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 20,485 as pilot in command; 2,691 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 3, 2022
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,043 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 2023; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 2,043 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13/3, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from MTV
Weather report (METAR): KMTV 301555Z AUTO 25003KT 10SM CLR 10/M06 A3025 RMK AO2 T01041057 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 25, 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 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.