Stinson 108-3 accident near Portland, Oregon, May 20, 1984
On May 20, 1984 at about 1:20 am local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N20Q, was destroyed in an accident near Portland, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 20, 1984 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N20Q · no longer on the register · serial 108-4661
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS BRIEFED ON THE WEATHER ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLT & VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE ACFT DEPARTED VANCOUVER, WA, AND FLEW TO TIGARD, OR. IT WAS OBSERVED TO DEPART TIGARD AT ABOUT 1810 PDT. NUMEROUS WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 1815, THEY SAW AN ACFT MANEUVERING AT LOW ALT NEAR A HIGHWAY, THEN IT DISAPPEARED WHILE FLYING TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. AT ABOUT 1820, RESIDENTS AT OR NEAR THE CREST OF THE HILLS HEARD THE ACFT CRASH. THE ACFT HAD HIT SUPPORTING GUY WIRE(S) FOR TOWER(S)S AT A RADIO/TV ANTENNA FARM. IMPACT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 250 FT AGL. REPORTEDLY, THE TOWERS WERE NOT VISIBLE DUE TO CLOUDS & FOG.
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: 151 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 1983; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-01 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 5S3 Tigard OR at 11:10 pm
- Destination: 0S6 Orchard WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.