# NTSB ANC93LA140: Stinson 108-2, N97978, Near Skwentna, AK, August 8, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1993, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Near Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.92987, -151.729965 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9299&lon=-151.7300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2399/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA140 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT, WHO HAD 5 HOURS EXPERIENCE IN MAKE/MODEL, MISJUDGED THE LENGTH OF TAKEOFF RUN NEEDED BY HIS NEWLY-ACQUIRED FLOAT PLANE. ABORTING THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DITCH IN A SWAMP AT THE END OF THE LAKE. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1993, at approximately 1245 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Stinson 108-2, with a 190 horsepower conversion, N97978, crashed on takeoff from an unnamed lake, approximately 50 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska. The accident location is near Skwentna. The airline transport rated pilot, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, personal, was departing the 2000 foot lake, with one passenger. Visual conditions existed and no flight plan was filed. Neither occupant were injured, however the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot told the NTSB and the FAA that he had about 5 hours experience in the airplane since purchase and about 100 hours on floats in a Champion airplane. He said the airplane seemed to be performing normally, but that he misjudged the length of takeoff run required and that "it just wouldn't fly, and I put it in the swamp at the end of the lake". The pilot described the damage to include a bent spar in the right wing, damaged floats, and leading edge damage on the left wing. A small fire in the engine compartment was reportedly extinguished by the pilot after the crash. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97978](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N97978), registered now, S/N 108-978, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STINSON 108-2 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (registry code 9230406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-435A/0-435C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435a-0-435c) (registry code 41517, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-975 - Airframe hours: 2400 - Engines: LYCOMING O-435-1 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wooliver, Geo & Nickerson, C. - Registered owner: Geo Wooliver & C. Nickerson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1992, 15 hours before - Destination: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,200 total, 5 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## 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 19930808028379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930808028379A), Aug 8, 1993: Univar 1082, Near Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to takeoff float equipped 108 unable to lift. Ran out of lake into swamp at end of lake. ## Other investigations on N97978 (2) 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 ANC99LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA137), Sep 9, 1999: Stinson 108-2 (N97978), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial failure of the brake system. A factor associated with the accident was a leaking brake system. - [NTSB ANC71DAG24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC71DAG24), Sep 14, 1970: Stinson 108-2 (N97978), Kenai, AK, substantial damage 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. --- 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.