Stinson 108-3 accident near Redlands, California, February 20, 1994
On February 20, 1994 at about 2:15 am local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N6009M, was destroyed in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO ALCOHOL, WHICH LED TO HIS IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TRAINING/CERTIFICATION FOR FLYING AT NIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 1994 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6009M · registry record · serial 108-4009
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AT NIGHT, FLYING TOWARD THE AIRPORT AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN VFR CONDITIONS. SOON THEREAFTER, IT STRUCK A 45-FOOT-HIGH POWERLINE & CRASHED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 3-3/4 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREEXISTING AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PILOT'S PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE CONTAINED AN ENDORSEMENT THAT RESTRICTED HIM FROM FLYING AT NIGHT, SINCE HE HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY NIGHT INSTRUCTION BEFORE APPLYING FOR THE CERTIFICATE. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF HIS BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.18%.
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: 388 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 344 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 4,505 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from ONT, 23 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.