Stinson 108-3 accident near Thompson Lake, Montana, August 13, 2000
On August 13, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N573C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thompson Lake, Montana (Campbell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An improper flare which lead to a hard landing and subsequent main gear collapse as a result of the overload.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Thompson Lake, Montana · Campbell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N573C · no longer on the register · serial 108-3573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that when he initially landed the airplane, it touched down hard. The pilot then taxied the airplane without further incident. The pilot stated that when he went to takeoff, during the takeoff ground roll, the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing and right side elevator contacted the surface and were substantially damaged. Further inspection of the landing gear revealed that the failure occurred at a weld point. The pilot indicated a total time of 1,569 hours on the part.
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: 200 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-435-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 1,900 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.