Stinson 108-1 accident near Athens, New York, May 28, 1990
On May 28, 1990 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N77WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Athens, New York (Athens airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND SUBSEQUENT STALL WHEN THE PILOT'S SEAT BACK FAILED AND THE PILOT HUNG ONTO THE CONTROL WHEEL, RESULTING IN AN EXCESSIVE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1990 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, New York · Athens · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N77WC · registry record · serial 108-279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT'S SEAT BACK BROKE JUST AFTER THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT TILTED AFT AND PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL WHEEL. THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED STEEPLY, TURNED RIGHT, STALLED, AND IMPACTED INVERTED. REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE FRACTURE WAS LOCATED ADJACENT TO A WELDED JUNCTION OF THE SEAT BACK ATTACH POINT. EXAMINATION REVEALED THE TUBE FRAME FAILED IN DUCTILE OVERLOAD WITH NO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION OF FATIGUE.
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; single-engine sea
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:30 am
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.