Stinson 108-1 accident near Toledo, Washington, May 7, 1998
On May 7, 1998 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8659K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toledo, Washington (Satcher Farms airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Partial loss of power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1998 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Toledo, Washington · Satcher Farms · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8659K · no longer on the register · serial 108-1659
- 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 during the takeoff, and just after liftoff, the engine lost partial power. The pilot continued to fly the airplane straight ahead and under power lines that were near the end of the airstrip. The tailwheel struck a barbed wire fence before the airplane touched down in a field that was populated with small Christmas trees. The airplane nosed over before coming to rest. Post accident inspection of the engine did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction, however, contamination was found in the carburetor and the accelerator pump failed to function properly.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 168 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 2,750 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,665 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1998; 5 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 25, 1,550 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from TDO, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.