Stinson 108-8 accident near Susanville, California, October 12, 1991
On October 12, 1991 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Stinson 108-8, registered N87607, was substantially damaged in an accident near Susanville, California (Spaulding airport). 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
AN INADVERTENT STALL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A CORRECT AIRSPEED DURING THE APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1991 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Susanville, California · Spaulding · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-8 · all 108-8s on the register
- Registration
- N87607 · registry record · serial 8
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN A STATEMENT TO FAA INSPECTORS THE PILOT SAID HE WAS TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE AIRCRAFT MUSHED INTO THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. IN HIS COMPLETED PILOT AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT NTSB FORM 6120.1/2, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS THINKING MORE ABOUT FISHING THAN FLYING THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. HE NOTED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE 'PAID MORE ATTENTION TO HIS AIRSPEED'. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF THE AIRCRAFT.
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: 650 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,794 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1991; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q94 Rio Linda CA at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 4,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.
Other NTSB records under N87607 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.