- Date
- June 25, 2025, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Alexander Creek, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N97438Stinson 108-8
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2025
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA - FSDO
- FAA report
- 20250625014909A
- Case key
- 200420
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during final approach. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s encounter with a downdraft that led to a rapid loss of altitude.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while on final approach to a remote airstrip surrounded by trees, the airplane encountered a downdraft and began a rapid descent. He attempted to recover by increasing throttle and applying aft elevator input. However, the airplane impacted the ground at a flat, nose-level attitude and subsequently nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, right wing lift strut, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N97438
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-8
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-438
- Built
- 1946
- Airframe hours
- 4,483
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4-165-03, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 20, 2025
- Departed
- BCV · Birchwood, AK
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- None · Roy's Strip, runway none, 1,300 × 60 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 17, 2022
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 236.1 total · 220.1 in this make and model · 2.5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.71 inHg
- Observed at
- ABV, 31 nm away
- METAR
- PABV 252056Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT065 BKN085 16/09 A2971 RMK AO2 SLP061 T01610094 55005
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.