Stinson 108-3 accident near El Monte, California, November 3, 2020
On November 3, 2020 at about 8:35 pm local time, a 1949 Stinson 108-3, registered N6855M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near El Monte, California (San Gabriel Valley Airport). It was an instructional 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
A loss of directional control during the landing roll due to an undetermined failure of the tailwheel assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2020 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · San Gabriel Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-3, built 1949 · all 108-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6855M · no longer on the register · serial 32666
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the airplane veered left. Despite the instructor’s application of corrective control inputs, the airplane did not respond as expected, ultimately resulting in a ground loop and substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed that both of the airplane’s tailwheel steering springs and tension chains were missing. The springs were found on the runway following the accident, separated from each other by about 1,700 ft. Neither of the chains were located. The manufacturer’s instructions called for the spring to connect directly to the tailwheel yoke, and the chain to connect to the steering arm with a connector clip. Evidence suggests that the spring was instead incorrectly connected directly to the steering arm. This reverse installation, while not in compliance with the maintenance instructions, did not appear to functionally affect the operation of the steering system, and therefore without examination of the missing chains or further examination of the tailwheel assembly, the significance of this finding could not be determined.
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 control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,556.1 hours in all; 23.3 in this make and model; 98.4 in the last 90 days; 40.5 in the last 30 days; 5,511.8 as pilot in command; 4,712.4 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 10, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 238.4 hours in all; 6.8 in this make and model; 8.2 in the last 90 days; 4.9 in the last 30 days; 156.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 13, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,427 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 (piston); 3,427 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 22°F (-6°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 3005.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 pm from KEMT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 28, 2022. 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 | Manufacturer's Installation Instructions | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Annual Inspection Logbook Entries | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | El Monte Airport Operations General Accident Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs | PDF, 4 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.