Stinson 108 accident near Farmingdale, New York, July 11, 1983
On July 11, 1983 at about 8:58 pm local time, a Stinson 108, registered N90DD, was destroyed in an accident near Farmingdale, New York (Republic airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1983 · about 8:58 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New York · Republic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N90DD · registry record · serial 4718
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CARBURETOR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REMOVED & REWORKED, THEN WAS REINSTALLED. AFTER THE INSTALLATION, WHICH INCLUDED A LEAK CHECK, THE PLT GOT INTO THE LEFT FRONT SEAT & THE PASSENGER/MECHANIC GOT INTO THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PLT PRIMED THE ENG, THEN MADE A START. AFTER STARTING, THE ENG RAN FOR APRX 20 SECONDS, THEN STOPPED. THE OCCUPANTS DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM & DECIDED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS PROBABLY 'AIR BOUND.' A DECISION WAS MADE TO KEEP THE ENG RUNNING BY USING THE PRIMER. AFTER RESTARTING, THE ENG CONTINUED TO RUN, BY USE OF THE PRIMER, FOR 30 TO 40 SEC, THEN THE PLT OBSERVED A FIRE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE COCKPIT. THE OCCUPANTS EVACUATED THE BURNING PLANE, BUT THE PLT FELL & THE PASSENGER RETURNED TO HELP. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE RIGHT WING TANK EXPLODED & BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE MAIN FUEL LINE FROM THE GASCOLATOR TO THE CARBURETOR HAD BROKEN. THE PLT DIED TWO DAYS LATER.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 62,088 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from FRG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC83FA171.