Stinson 108-1 accident near Hesperia, California, June 2, 1985
On June 2, 1985 at about 11:55 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N97935, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hesperia, California (Hesperia Air Lodge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 2, 1985 · about 11:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia Air Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N97935 · no longer on the register · serial 108-935
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT NOTED THUNDERSTORMS & TOWERING CUMULUS CLOUDS OVER THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS & ELECTED TO DIVERT TO HESPERIA. HE STATED THAT ALL FIELDS WITHIN RANGE HAD 'SEVERE WINDS AND STORMS CLOSING.' HE SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING AT HESPERIA, THERE WAS A DIRECT, RIGHT X-WIND WITH GUSTS TO 26 KTS. WHILE LANDING, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS CAPABLE IN LANDING IN X-WINDS UP TO 18 KTS. APRX 15 MI NW AT VICTORVILLE, CA, THE 1655 PDT WIND WAS FROM 250 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 20 KTS.
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
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,737 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TNP Twenty-Nine Pal CA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: BFL Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 3,750 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from VCV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.