Stinson 10-A accident near Oak Harbor, Washington, April 8, 2005
On April 8, 2005 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Stinson 10-A, registered N39482, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oak Harbor, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to adequately plan the approach for landing and maintain clearance from trees during the go-around. A tailwind and trees were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2005 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Harbor, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 10-A · all 10-As on the register
- Registration
- N39482 · no longer on the register · serial 8182
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A pilot and his passenger flying a Cessna 170 reported that they observed a small airplane on approach, to the east, to a small airstrip. The passenger watched the aircraft on final approach to the point where a go-around was initiated. She was not sure if the aircraft actually touched down or not. She watched it as it pulled up over the trees and continued to the east. She momentarily lost sight of the aircraft due to interference with the frame of the door of the aircraft she was in. When she tried to find the aircraft again, she spotted a plume of smoke. Witnesses near the accident site reported that the aircraft was seen traveling in an easterly direction, very low and near the tree line just before the collision with several trees. The witnesses reported that the engine was running, but seemed like it was strained or not at full power. The local area Paramedic who tended to the pilot before he was airlifted to a hospital reported that he asked the pilot if he had a medical condition, which the pilot responded that he did not. The pilot was also able to recall the day and date and further reported to the paramedic that he "overshot his landing," and that either the "winds or wing flipped him over." At the time of the accident, the winds were from the west at ten knots. During the post-accident inspection of the airframe and engine, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found.
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: 279 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 205 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 2002; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,680 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 4AC-199E3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Oak Harbor WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 80, 1,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from NUW, 7 miles away
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.