Stinson 108-1 accident near Albany, Oregon, February 25, 1989
On February 25, 1989 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N97764, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albany, Oregon (Albany airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING AND THE IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1989 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Albany, Oregon · Albany · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N97764 · registry record · serial 108-764
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON THE FIRST SOLO FLIGHT WHEN THE ACFT WAS LANDED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY BECAUSE OF THE CROSSWIND. WHEN THE LEFT WING DROPPED, THE STUDENT USED RIGHT RUDDER VS AILERON TO CORRECT, RESULTING IN A SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. THE LEFT WINGTIP WAS DRAGGED ON THE GROUND, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR FAILED AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY WHERE IT NOSED OVER.
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: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1988; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.