Stinson 108 accident near Wildwood, New Jersey, February 5, 1987
On February 5, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108, registered N97202, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wildwood, New Jersey (Cape May 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 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
- February 5, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wildwood, New Jersey · Cape May
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N97202 · no longer on the register · serial 108-202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, HE TAXIED THRU SVRL PUDDLES OF WATER FROM MELTING SNOW. THE TEMP AT THAT TIME WAS RPRTD AS 25 DEG. HE RPRTD THAT WHEN HE LANDED AT WILDWOOD, THE WIND WAS FROM 290 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS & THE TEMP WAS 30 DEG. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE LANDED, THE TAIL & RGT MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN 1ST, SINCE HE CORRECTED FOR A SLIGHT X-WIND, BUT WHEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN, IT SEEMED TO BE LOCKED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER AS IT SLOWED DOWN. WHEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS CHECKED, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACDNT, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT ROTATE. HOWEVER, ABOUT 1 HR LATER, IT WOULD ROTATE. THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN THE ACFT WAS TURNED RIGHT SIDE UP, ABOUT 1/2 CUP OF WATER RAN OUT OF THE WHEEL COVER.
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: 487 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 403 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,444 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N51 Readington NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,998 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.