Stinson 108-1 accident near Saugus, California, March 13, 1987
On March 13, 1987 at about 3:25 am local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8185K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saugus, California. It was a personal 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 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
- March 13, 1987 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Saugus, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8185K · no longer on the register · serial 108-1185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON CONTACTING ATC, THE PLT REQUESTED AN ILS APCH AND THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. THE CONTROLLER CLEARED THE PLT TO THE ILS. JUST INSIDE THE OUTER MARKER THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PLT THAT HE WAS DANGEROUSLY LOW AND TO CLIMB IMMEDIATELY. THE PLT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A NORTHERLY TURN. THE CONTROLLER ASKED THE PLT HIS INTENTIONS AND THE PLT REPLIED HE WANTED AN ILS TO THE ARPT. THE CONTROLLER GAVE THE PLT VECTORS BACK TO THE ILS WHEN THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS DESCENDING THROUGH A HOLE IN VMC. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AND THE CONTROLLER HAD TO USE ANOTHER ACFT TO RELAY MESSAGES TO THE PLT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PLT TO SQUAWK 7700 AND THAT IF HE COULD NOT MAKE IT TO ANOTHER ARPT HE SHOULD FIND A FLAT SPOT AND LAND. THE PLT FOUND A DRY WASH AND LANDED. WHILE TAXIING TO HIGHER GROUND, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A FENCE.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,742 hours in all; 1,206 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,742 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 1:20 am
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:46 am from VNY, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.