Stinson 108-2 accident near Carpinteria, California, September 1, 1985
On September 1, 1985 at about 5:21 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N9782K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carpinteria, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 1, 1985 · about 5:21 pm local time
- Place
- Carpinteria, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9782K · no longer on the register · serial 108-2782
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A X-C PLEASURE FLT ALL ENG PWR WAS SUDDENLY LOST WHEN THE PLT HEARD A 'LOUD BANG.' THE PLT MADE AN EMERGENCY LDG ON A POLO FIELD. DURING LDG FLARE THE PLT STALLED THE ACFT. THE RESULTING HARD TOUCHDOWN SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE ACFT. EXAM OF THE ACFT'S FRANKLIN ENG REVEALED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE'S ACCESSORY CASE. THE ENGINE'S CRANKSHAFT GEAR WAS MISSING. THE FAILURE OF THIS GEAR CONTRIBUTED TO CAUSING OTHER INTERNAL DAMAGE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR WAS THE PRIMARY COMPONENT TO FAIL. THE ENG HAD ACCUMULATED 2620 TOTAL HRS & 520 SMOH.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 390 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 242 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L12 Redlands CA at 4:01 pm
- Destination: SBA Santa Barbara CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.