Stinson 108-3 accident near Corbett, Oregon, June 23, 1992
On June 23, 1992 at about 1:20 am local time, a Stinson 108-3, registered N6470M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corbett, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE FLOAT ATTACH FITTING, AND THE SEPARATION OF THE FLOATS FROM THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1992 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Corbett, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6470M · registry record · serial 108-4470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKING OFF FROM ROUGH WATER, AND CLIMBING TO ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE RIVER, THE PILOT OF THE STINSON FLOATPLANE HEARD A LOUD POP IN THE RIGHT FRONT AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE VIBRATION, AND BY THE PILOT'S DECISION TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE PILOT, WHO DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE FLOATS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE, ATTEMPTED A NORMAL WATER LANDING, WHEREUPON THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE IMPACTED THE WATER AND ULTIMATELY SANK.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 520 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1991; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3S1 Lake Oswego OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 35 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.