Universal Stinson 108-2 accident near Byron, California, January 27, 2022
On January 27, 2022 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1947 Universal Stinson 108-2, registered N9433K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Byron, California (Byron 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
The pilot’s inadequate flare and loss of directional control during landing which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2022 · about 10:45 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Byron, California · Byron · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Universal Stinson 108-2, built 1947 · all 108-2s on the register
- Registration
- N9433K · registry record · serial 1082433
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of a tail wheel equipped airplane reported that, while practicing touch-and-go landings the pilot receiving instruction made a landing which resulted in a “medium bounce”. During the second flare the airplane immediately yawed left. The pilot corrected to the right and back to the left. The flight instructor tried to intervene; however, the airplane exited the side of the runway. The left wing was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 57 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 16,300 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 350 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 9, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,813.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,330 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin GA4-165 SERIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSCK Stockton CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: C83 Byron CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from KSCK
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSCK 272055Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 16/03 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP236 T01610033 58010=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – N9433K Right Rear, Courtesy Owner
Photo 2 - N9433K Front, Courtesy Owner
Photo 3 - N9433K Left Wing, Courtesy Owner
Photo 4 - N9433K Fuselage, Courtesy OwnerThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 19, 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 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9433K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Universal Stinson 108 134 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Universal Stinson 134 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Franklin GA4-165 SERIE · as the NTSB recorded it
- Byron Airport · nearest airport
- Stockton Metro Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,094 in the last ten years
- California 28,286 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR22LA085.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.