Stinson 108-1 accident near Rio Vista, California, March 17, 1987
On March 17, 1987 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N97115, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Vista, California. 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 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 17, 1987 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, California · 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
- N97115 · no longer on the register · serial 108-1115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN SOFT SOIL AFTER A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE FAILED DURING THE DEPARTURE CLIMB AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE PILOT ACCOMPLISHED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER WHEN THE NOSE GEAR BECAME BOGGED IN SOFT SOIL. THE POWERPLANT WAS DISASSEMBLED AND EXAMINED. DURING THE DISASSEMBLY THE CRANKSHAFT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE FRACTURED BETWEEN THE NUMBER ONE AND TWO CYLINDER JOURNALS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AIRFRAME AND ENGINE LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS INSTALLED ON MARCH 28, 1984 WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED. THE AIRCRAFT HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 54 FLIGHT HOURS SINCE THE ENGINE OVERHAUL. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE CRANKSHAFT WAS NEW OR RECONDITIONED AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 535 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 1986; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 088 Rio Vista CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: LVK Livermore CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 22,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from SUU, 14 miles away
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.