Stinson 108-1 accident near Latrobe, Pennsylvania, July 20, 2001
On July 20, 2001 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8212K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Latrobe, Pennsylvania (Arnold Palmer Regional 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in the inadvertent ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2001 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Latrobe, Pennsylvania · Arnold Palmer Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8212K · registry record · serial 108-1212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the tailwheel-equipped airplane's landing rollout, the pilot felt a gust of wind come from the right and to the rear. The right wing was lifted off the ground, and the pilot attempted to compensate by applying right aileron and left brake. The airplane continued to ground-loop to the right, pivoting on the left main landing gear until it collapsed. Winds were from the right, at less than 6 knots.
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: 400 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2001; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 64A-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P45 Mount Pleasant PA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: LBE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from PIT, 35 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.