Stinson 108 accident near Woodruff, Wisconsin, April 7, 2017
On April 7, 2017 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108, registered N9363K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Woodruff, Wisconsin (Lakeland/Noble F Lee Memorial 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 receiving instruction's incorrect brake usage and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2017 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Woodruff, Wisconsin · Lakeland/Noble F Lee Memorial · 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 108s on the register
- Registration
- N9363K · no longer on the register · serial 108-2363
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a three-point landing touchdown, the airplane pulled to the left, and he heard a "pop." He added that the pilot who was flying and receiving instruction "locked up" the right brake. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway surface to the right and ground looped. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot receiving instruction reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane drifted to the left, and he applied right brake to correct. He added that, upon braking, he heard the left tire blow, and the airplane departed the runway to the right. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that the tire "inner tube" on the left main landing gear failed during the landing roll.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,994.1 hours in all; 41.5 in this make and model; 18.5 in the last 90 days; 4.9 in the last 30 days; 2,110.1 as pilot in command; 1,407.4 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 16, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 238.8 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4.3 in the last 30 days; 187 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 26, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,824.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4165-B3 (piston); 2,824 hours total
- Operator: Lakeland Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ARV Minocqua-Woodruff WI at 12:45 pm
- Destination: ARV Minocqua-Woodruff WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,150 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KARV
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 June 9, 2017. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 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.