Stinson 108-1 accident near Powderly, Texas, November 11, 1988
On November 11, 1988 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8394K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Powderly, Texas (Powderly airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 1988 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Powderly, Texas · Powderly · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8394K · no longer on the register · serial 108-1394
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING HIS BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW AND WAS ON APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND LOST ELEVATOR CONTROL. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE AIRPLANE DOWN ON THE RUNWAY, BUT COULD NOT GET THE TAIL DOWN. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED FORWARD TO THE INVERTED POSITION. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ARM BETWEEN THE ELEVATOR AND THE BELL CRANK WAS BROKEN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN WATER INSIDE THE ARM WHICH HAD RUSTED THROUGH TO THE OUTSIDE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 44F at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,945 ft by 38 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from GVT, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.