# NTSB ERA26LA108: Stinson 108-3, N528C, Palmetto, FL, February 6, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 6, 2026, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmetto, FL
- Coordinates: 27.64532, -82.507071
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6453&lon=-82.5071&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/ FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202409
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202409/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202409
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA108

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Before the accident flight, the pilot added 4 gallons of automotive fuel from a gas can to the airplane and planned to fly to another airport to obtain fuel, as none was available at the departure airport. Upon reaching the destination airport, the pilot attempted to land, but then performed a go-around due to the wind conditions. While on the base leg of the traffic pattern for the second landing approach, the engine lost power completely. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane’s landing gear struck an irrigation ditch and it nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing struts, the tail, and the forward fuselage. Following the accident, the pilot reported that when the airplane was being recovered from the field, only a trace amount of fuel could be drained from the fuel tanks. The pilot also stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the airplane was, “…obviously out of fuel.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N528C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N528C), registered now, S/N 108-3528 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-3
- Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 108-3528
- Year built: 1955
- Airframe hours: 2599.3
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2025, 41 hours before
- Departed: FD77, Wimauma, FL
- Destination: 48X, Palmetto, FL
- Airport: 48X, Manatee, runway 7, 3,120 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 20, 2026; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 210 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: SPG, 9 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSPG 061553Z 28005KT 10SM CLR 14/03 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP204 T01390028

## 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 20260206004369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260206004369A), Feb 6, 2026: Stinson 108-3, Palmetto, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft suffered fuel starvation during approcah at 48X, engine shutdown. Aircraft landed in farm field northeast of the airfield. Aircraft flipped and ended…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202409. 7.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20041255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSBWinnFormN528C_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Mor pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20040829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20041106&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Mor pilot email statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20554630&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20statement%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Fuel receipt (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20555306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N528C%20Fuel%20receipt%2012-26-2025_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot log (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20040977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logs_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Manual page (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20555316&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Manual%20page-Rel.pdf

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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