Stinson 108-2 accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, July 10, 2002
On July 10, 2002 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N390C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey (Lincoln Park Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff when diminished performance was noted. A factor was carburetor icing, accumulated before the takeoff attempt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2002 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln Park, New Jersey · Lincoln Park Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N390C · no longer on the register · serial 108-3390
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted a preflight inspection, started the engine, and performed magneto and carburetor heat checks. He then taxied the airplane about 1,500 feet for takeoff, and had to wait, with the engine at idle, while four other airplanes landed, and the one in front of him took off. Prior to takeoff, the pilot selected takeoff flaps and takeoff trim. During the takeoff roll, the pilot felt the airplane was not accelerating normally, but attributed it to summer temperatures. About 1,000 feet down the runway, the airplane broke ground briefly, then settled back down and became airborne again in about 100 feet. After the pilot subsequently "got it off the ground," he felt that it was not accelerating normally, so he pushed the yoke forward and raised the flaps. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway and settled into a parked airplane before continuing up an embankment, and coming to rest partially on a road. In a statement provided several months after the accident, the pilot stated that the engine "was not running" when it settled into the parked airplane. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical discrepancies which could have contributed to the accident. The fuel was checked, and found to be clear, blue in color, and absent of debris. A carburetor icing probability chart revealed that ambient conditions during the time of the accident could have resulted in moderate icing at cruise power or serious icing at glide power. According to a maintenance technician, the engine was susceptible to carburetor icing on the ground due to the position of the air intake manifold. After a ground run-up subsequent to the accident, the carburetor box was cold to the touch.
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: 777 hours in all; 777 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 25, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 2001; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N07 Lincoln Park NJ at 3:25 pm
- Destination: N72 Warwick NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,942 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from MMU, 10 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.