Stinson 108 - 3 accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, July 25, 2015
On July 25, 2015 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1948 Stinson 108 - 3, registered N6152M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas 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 partial loss of engine power due to a degraded cylinder exhaust valve seal, which resulted in low cylinder compression.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2015 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 - 3 3, built 1948 · all 108 - 3s on the register
- Registration
- N6152M · no longer on the register · serial 108-4152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the private pilot, after an uneventful departure in high-density altitude conditions for the personal cross-country flight, he made a left crosswind turn in the airport traffic pattern as instructed by an air traffic controller. When the airplane was about 800 ft above ground level and near the departure end of the runway, the airplane stopped climbing, which was accompanied by a vibration. The airplane likely stopped climbing due to a partial loss of engine power and the high-density altitude conditions. The pilot lowered the airplane's nose to increase airspeed and continued the turn to land on the runway, but when the airplane started to sink, he decided to land on a tarmac located straight ahead. The airplane touched down, with a tailwind, about halfway down the tarmac. The pilot deployed full flaps but was unable to slow the airplane before it impacted a fence and then nosed over. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 cylinder exhaust valve seal was degraded, which prevented the valve from seating properly and likely resulted in low cylinder compression and a partial loss of engine power. Further, testing of the magnetos revealed that the primary ignition lead for the No. 6 cylinder was inoperative, which likely resulted in the engine running roughly after the partial loss of power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Damaged/degraded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Inoperative
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 98 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 77 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 16, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,868 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2014; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4165B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 11:30 pm
- Destination: AZ50 White Hills AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from VGT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on February 11, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversations | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Air Traffic Controller Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Correspondence with Pilot's Representative | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Excerpt from Franklin Engine Service Manual | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Excerpt from Pilot Logbook | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.