Stinson 108-2 accident near Wakeeney, Kansas, October 12, 1987
On October 12, 1987 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N448C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wakeeney, Kansas (Pvt Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 12, 1987 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wakeeney, Kansas · Pvt Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N448C · no longer on the register · serial 108-3448
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER & HIS SON, WHO WERE BOTH PLTS, INITIATED A MIDFIELD TAKEOFF FROM THEIR PVT DIRT AIRSTRIP WHICH WAS ON SOFT UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE SON RPRTD THAT NEAR THE END OF THE STRIP, POWER WAS 'CUT.' THE ACFT CONTD ABOUT 200' BEYOND THE DEP END OF THE STRIP & NOSED OVER BEFORE COMING TO REST. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD BECOME AIRBORNE & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT HIT A POST ABOUT 3 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT NOSED OVER WHEN THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES AS THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE ROUGH DIRT OVERRUN. SEAT BELT FAILURE OCCURRED AS THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,200 ft by 20 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from HLC, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.