Stinson 108-1 accident near Los Angeles, California, May 21, 2000
On May 21, 2000 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8398K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Angeles, California (Whiteman 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during landing rollout due to the pilot's foot becoming wedged under a rudder pedal, which restricted its movement.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2000 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · Whiteman Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8398K · no longer on the register · serial 108-1398
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing rollout the pilot's right foot slipped off the rudder pedal. The pilot's tennis shoe became lodged beneath the pedal and he was unable to dislodge it. Directional control was lost, and the airplane ground looped.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,909 hours in all; 2,527 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,413 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 2000; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP at 7:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,120 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 212°F (100°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:38 pm from WHP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.