# NTSB ANC77FA031: Stinson 108-2, N97274, Merrill Pass, AK, February 18, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 18, 1977
- Place: Merrill Pass, AK · MERRILL PASS, AK
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 14, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157122
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC77FA031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77FA031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0357  77/2/18    MERRILL PASS,AK     STINSON 108-2       CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 1100
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N97274              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          ANIAK,AK                    ANCHORAGE,AK                 STONEY RIVER,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- PLT ADVISED ENROUTE MERRILL PASS FCST TO BE CLOSED & TURBULENT.HIT CANYON WALL 3100FT MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97274](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97274-1977-05-23), registration cancelled 1977-05-23, S/N 108-274 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-2
- Registry model: [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (registry code 9230406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19770218005499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770218005499A), Feb 18, 1977: Univar 1082, Merrill Pass, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Plt advised enroute Merrill Pass fcst to be closed & turbulent. Hit canyon wall 3100FT MSL.

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.

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