Stinson 108-1 accident near Elbridge, New York, June 14, 1996
On June 14, 1996 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8073K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elbridge, New York. 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 pilot's improper decision to use auto fuel and to fly the airplane when it was in need of major repairs and overdue its annual inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1996 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elbridge, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8073K · no longer on the register · serial 1082073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner departed from a private strip to fly the airplane to another airport to have the annual inspection performed. After takeoff, about 150 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a hay field, and the airplane nosed over after touchdown. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failure of the engine or airframe. This was the first flight of the airplane in about 8 months. During storage, the hangar collapsed on the airplane, and tore and dented the fuel tanks, broke the windshield above the co-pilot's head, tore a large hole in the skin above the co-pilot area, and caused multiple dents on the top of the wings. The airplane's annual inspection was overdue, and the airplane had not been inspected or approved for the flight. The pilot had drained some fuel from the tanks and replaced it with auto fuel, which was not approved for use in the airplane.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Jordon NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from SYR, 16 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.