Stinson 108-1 accident near Grangeville, Idaho, April 27, 1986
On April 27, 1986 at about 6:05 am local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8165K, was destroyed in an accident near Grangeville, Idaho. 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
- April 27, 1986 · about 6:05 am local time
- Place
- Grangeville, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8165K · no longer on the register · serial 108-1-165
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT CALLED FSS OVER LWS FOR WX BRIEF LWS-BKE-BOI. VFR NOT RECOMMENDED FOR ROUTE, MOUNTAINS OBSCURED IN RAIN SHOWERS. PLT CALLED FSS 30 MIN LATER, REPORTED LOST IN CLOUDS ATTEMPTING ROUTE. RADIO CONTACT LOST BEFORE LOCATION ESTABLISHED (2305 MST, 04-26-86). WRECKAGE LOCATED RISING TERRAIN AT 4500-FT ELEVATION. THE ACFT WAS LOCATED BY A U.S. FOREST SERVICE ACFT ON 07/31/87, 33 MILES NW OF GRANGEVILLE, ID.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all
- 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 GA4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PUW Pullman WA at 5:20 am
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 am from ALW, 59 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.