Stinson 108-2 accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, April 5, 1990
On April 5, 1990 at about 7:23 am local time, a Stinson 108-2, registered N9443K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Hillsboro 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
PILOT DISPLAYED POOR STARTING PROCEDURES BY PROCEEDING WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES WITH THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE INADEQUACIES OF THE TIE DOWN. THE PILOT DID NOT ATTAIN ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROCEDURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE GETTING AWAY AND COLLIDING WITH TWO PARKED AIRPLANES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1990 · about 7:23 am local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Hillsboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-2 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9443K · registry record · serial 108-2443
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD SECURED THE TAIL OF THE AIRPLANE WITH A TIE DOWN CHAIN, SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE TO 550 RPM'S. THE PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO HAND PROP THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE PILOT BEGAN TO WALK AROUND THE AIRPLANE WHEN HE NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE STARTED FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE AIRPLANE OVERRODE THE PARKING BRAKE AND BROKE THE TIE DOWN CHAIN. THE PILOT SLIPPED AND WAS UNABLE TO GET INSIDE THE COCKPIT. THE AIRPLANE PROCEEDED FORWARD AND COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED AIRPLANES.
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: 350 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 310 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1989; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,078 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.