Stinson 108-2 accident near Clarion, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1995
On April 23, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N978D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarion, Pennsylvania (Clarion County 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
A PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clarion, Pennsylvania · Clarion County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N978D · no longer on the register · serial 2978
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL A GUST OF WIND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT. HE APPLIED RIGHT BRAKE FOR CORRECTION, BUT THIS WAS INEFFECTIVE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND NOSED OVER. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT BOTH BRAKE PEDALS WERE SPONGY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE RIGHT BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED SLIGHTLY AND THEN REAPPLIED, IT WOULD BOTTOM OUT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.
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: 1,061 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,535 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N97 Clearfield PA
- Destination: 11D
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 6, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from BVI, 52 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.