Stinson 108 accident near Hoquiam, Washington, December 30, 1985
On December 30, 1985 at about 7:50 am local time, a Stinson 108, registered N40199, was destroyed in an accident near Hoquiam, Washington (Bowerman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- December 30, 1985 · about 7:50 am local time
- Place
- Hoquiam, Washington · Bowerman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N40199 · registry record · serial 108-129
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED TERRAIN 680 FT NORTH OF RWY 06 AT BOWERMAN AIRFIELD. THE ACFT DEPARTED ELMA ARPT, OCEAN SHORES, WA, SOMETIME AROUND 2330 PST, ON 12-29-85. PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE THE PASSENGER STATED TO PERSONS THEY WERE WAITING FOR THE FOG TO CLEAR FOR DEPARTURE. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING AN ACFT MAKE AT LEAST TWO ATTEMPTS TO LAND AT ELMO ARPT AROUND 2330 PST. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE WX WAS IFR WITH DENSE GROUND FOG. WITNESSES IN HOQUIAM AND ABERDEEN REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT HEADING WEST, ABOVE GROUND FOG AROUND 2345 PST. EVIDENCE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED THE ENG WAS NOT PRODUCING PWR AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL ON BOARD THE ACFT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S26 Ocean Shores WA at 7:00 am
- Destination: WA22 Elma WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; not recorded at 100 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from OLM, 42 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.