Stinson 108 accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, February 20, 2017
On February 20, 2017 at about 3:40 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108, registered N9277K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Valparaiso, Indiana (Porter County Rgnl 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 while landing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2017 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Valparaiso, Indiana · Porter County Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 2, built 1947 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N9277K · registry record · serial 108-2277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, as the tail came down, a "sizable gust weathervaned" the airplane to the left. He added that, he "made aggressive inputs to correct the direction" but was unsuccessful. He further added that, once the airplane veered off the runway and into the grass, he could feel the mains begin to sink into the soft ground. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift struts and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 16 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 9 knots. The airplane landed on runway 18.
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
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 296 in this make and model; 241 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 4, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4165 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Private IN at 3:30 pm
- Destination: VPZ Valparaiso IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KVPZ
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 GAA17CA153.