Stinson 108-1 accident near Brigham City, Utah, May 21, 1993
On May 21, 1993 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8589K, was destroyed in an accident near Brigham City, Utah (Brigham City Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PREMATURE LIFTOFF BY THE PIC AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER RATE OF CLIMB. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FAILURE OF THE PIC TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY, AND TRANSMISSION WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1993 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Brigham City, Utah · Brigham City Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8589K · no longer on the register · serial 108-1589
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC INITIATED A TAKEOFF FROM A RUNWAY INTERSECTION, LIFTED OFF PREMATURELY, AND THE ACFT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE PIC CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND LIFTED OFF AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT SETTLED SLIGHTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND BEGAN A SHALLOW CLIMB. WHEN THE ACFT APPROACHED POWER LINES AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW TO CLEAR THE WIRES, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN TO AVOID IMPACT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK POWER LINES LOCATED ABOUT 2500 FT FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE ACFT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: 127 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 83 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,856 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OGD Ogden UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from OGD, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.