Stinson 108 accident near Cool, California, September 1, 1989
On September 1, 1989 at about 5:38 pm local time, a Stinson 108, registered N97628, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cool, California (Auburn 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE #2 PISTON. FAILURE OF THE MECHANIC TO PROPERLY OVERHAUL THE ENGINE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1989 · about 5:38 pm local time
- Place
- Cool, California · Auburn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N97628 · registry record · serial 108-628
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING TO CRUISE ALTITUDE, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON AN ACCESS ROAD. THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE LEFT WHEEL PANT STRUCK A ROAD MARKER. THE AIRPLANE THEN YAWED TO THE LEFT, EXITED THE ROADWAY, AND WENT THRU A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND ONTO A DIRT FIELD. AN ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE #2 PISTON WAS DESTROYED. THE PISTON WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AS BEING THE CORRECT ONE FOR THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD ACCRUED 145 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. THE OVERHAUL WAS PERFORMED BY AN A&P MECHANIC.
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
What happened, in order
- LOSS OF ENGINE POWER(PARTIAL) - MECH FAILURE/MALF during climb - to cruise
- FORCED LANDING during descent - emergency
- ON GROUND/WATER COLLISION WITH OBJECT during landing - roll
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 305 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 264 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,365 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Q61 Georgetown CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°C, dew point 0°C
- Altimeter: 29 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX89LA298.