Stinson 108-3 accident near Lynnwood, Washington, November 13, 1982
On November 13, 1982 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N6943M, was destroyed in an accident near Lynnwood, Washington (Martha Lake airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1982 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lynnwood, Washington · Martha Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6943M · no longer on the register · serial 4943
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG FAILED APPROACHING THE ARPT AT LOW ALTITUDE. THE ACFT STRUCK TREES DURING A DESCENDING TURN TOWARD A POWER COMPANY RIGHT-OF-WAY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE IMPULSE DRIVE SPRINGS ON BOTH MAGNETOS HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE SPRINGS ARE NOT ASSIGNED A SERVICE LIFE LIMIT. REJECTION CRITERIA DURING MAGNETO OVERHAUL PERTAINS TO DISTORTION OF COIL SYMMETRY & OBVIOUS SIGNS OF WEAR. NO RECORD COULD BE FOUND OF REPLACEMENT OF THE MAGNETO IMPULSE SPRINGS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DATING TO 1948.
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
- Flight time: 219 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 156 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 325 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S13 Lynnwood WA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: S13 Lynnwood WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.