Stinson 108-3 accident near Window Rock, Arizona, June 19, 1992
On June 19, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N589C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Window Rock, Arizona. 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CALCULATE THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE DATA AND PERFORM A WEATHER EVAULUATION. THE EXISTING HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Window Rock, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N589C · registry record · serial 108-3589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING HIS PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN HIS 166 HORSEPOWER, HEAVILY LOADED AIRPLANE, FROM AN AIRPORT WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 9,988 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PILOT CALCULATED THE DENSITY ALTITUDE OR THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED THROUGH 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND IT ENCOUNTERED A DOWN DRAFT AND BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO CLIMB AGAIN AND THE PILOT ENTERED A TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DESCENT AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-83 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P34 at 8:10 pm
- Destination: OUF Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 18,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from GUP, 15 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.