- Date
- July 27, 1987, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Kirbyville, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N744CStinson 108-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870727038899A
- Case key
- 22263
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot approached the Kirbyville airport in preparation for landing, witnesses stated that smoke was observed coming from the engine area. The aircraft impacted 30 foot pine trees, & control was lost. The aircraft struck a large tree approximately 5 feet above ground level and burst into flames. The pilot appeared to be attempting to reach an open field immediately adjacent to the point of impact. An engine teardown revealed no evidence of failure or malfunction. The acft and engine were extensively dmgd by impact and postcrash fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N744C
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3744
- Engine
- Continental IO-470, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Delma Haney
- Registered owner
- Ruby B. Holmes & Dalma Haney
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- ORG · Orange, TX
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
- 65
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 600 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BPT, 62 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.