Stinson 108 accident near Meadville, Pennsylvania, August 11, 2006
On August 11, 2006 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Stinson 108, registered N97541, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meadville, Pennsylvania (Port Meadville Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The owner's failure to install the proper tailwheel spring clips, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll. A factor was his lack of a mechanic certificate.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2006 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Meadville, Pennsylvania · Port Meadville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N97541 · no longer on the register · serial 108-541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, the Stinson 108 began a left turn. The pilot applied opposite rudder to counter the turn, but was unsuccessful. The airplane departed the runway, struck a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the tailwheel spring clips had disconnected from the tailwheel springs, and were stretched and distorted. About 2 weeks before the accident, the owner of the airplane installed a new tailwheel and elected not to install the tailwheel spring clips provided with the kit, but instead to use the clips that were already on the airplane. The owner was not a certificated mechanic, nor did he consult with a mechanic during the installation process.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 296 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6-A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ERI Erie PA
- Destination: GKJ Meadville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.