Stinson 108 accident near Palmer, Alaska, September 20, 2015
On September 20, 2015 at about 8:10 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108, registered N6066M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Palmer, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack during final approach to landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2015 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 3, built 1947 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N6066M · registry record · serial 108-4066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal flight and was on final approach to land at a remote backcountry airstrip. The pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat for the approach and that he observed 60 mph (52.1 knots) on the airspeed indicator. He subsequently "pushed the throttle forward, but the engine sound remained constant." According to the pilot-rated passenger, as the pilot began to level the wings to align with the runway, the right wing "instantly…dropped to a 45 degree angle." He then observed the pilot immediately reach for the throttle but saw him inadvertently grab the carburetor heat lever instead. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose-low, right-wing-down attitude and came to rest on a hillside about 100 yards short of the landing area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, during the final approach, the pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed and exceeded the airplane's critical angle-of-attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Although the pilot attempted to add power to recover from the stall, he inadvertently grabbed the carburetor heat lever instead of the throttle.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final)
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 › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 406 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 367 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCV Birchwood AK
- Destination: None Palmer AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway NONE, 1,500 ft by 30 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAAQ, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.