# Accident 20150920016479A: Stinson 108-3, Palmer, AK, September 20, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 2015, 11:00 local time
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Airport: Palmer Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4133° N, 148.5714° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4133&lon=-148.5714&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6066M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6066M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stinson 108-3 (registry code 9230408, https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 6A4165 series (registry code 27025, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-3
- Reported engine: FRANKLIN 6A4165 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 415 total, 300 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA265) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150920016479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

N6066M, A STINSON S108 AIRCRAFT, WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT THE "PICNIC TABLE AIRSTRIP," WHICH IS LOCATED NEAR THE BASE OF THE KNIK GLACIER (APPROXIMATELY 61'24"N, 148'36"W).

THE AIRCRAFT OVERFLEW THE LANDING STRIP AND ENTERED A LEFT DOWNWIND LEG, WITH THE INTENT OF LANDING TOWARDS THE EAST.  THE PIC CONFIGURED THE AIRCRAFT WITH FULL FLAPS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG.  DURING THE TRANSITION FROM LEFT BASE, TO THE FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT, BOTH THE PIC AND PASSENGER NOTICED THE AIRSPEED WAS SLOW, APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ABOVE STALL SPEED.  THE PIC FURTHER STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS MUCH TOO LOW AS WELL.  THE PIC WAS ATTEMPTING TO ADD POWER IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE LOW ALTITUTUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT; HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF ADDING POWER, THE PIC PUSHED THE CARBURATOR HEAT KNOB FORWARD INSTEAD OF THE THROTTLE.  SHORTLY AFTER, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED.  THE PASSENGER ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 80 TO 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND LEVEL WHEN IT STALLED.  THE AICRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND NEAR THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY, SHORT OF THE LANDING STRIP THRESHOLD.

THE PIC RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, FRACTURING HIS SKULL.  THE PASSENGER ALSO RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURY, FRACRURING A VERTIBRAE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA15LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15LA265), Sep 20, 2015: Stinson 108 (N6066M), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack during final approach to landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact…

## Other reports on N6066M (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19800322033259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800322033259I), Mar 22, 1980: Univar 1083 (N6066M), Tok, AK, Minor damage. After touchdown on soft snow-covered runway, main tires fell through. Aircraft swerved left and nosed over.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.