# NTSB WPR26LA183: Stinson 108-3, N588C, Quilcene, WA, May 12, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 12, 2026, 10:49 local (17:49 UTC)
- Place: Quilcene, WA
- Coordinates: 47.9222, -122.88975
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9222&lon=-122.8898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA183
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202974/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA183

## Preliminary report

On May 12, 2026, at about 1049 Pacific daylight time, a Stinson 108-3 airplane, N588C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Quilcene, Washington. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection of the airplane, he did not note any oil leaks, and the engine oil dipstick showed about 7.5 quarts of oil. About 15 minutes after departure, the engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, switched magnetos, and switched fuel tanks to resolve the engine roughness, but was unsuccessful. He then decided to divert to a nearby airport. Shortly after the pilot began his turn to the airport, the engine emitted a loud bang, oil covered the windscreen, and smoke began filling the cabin. As the pilot began maneuvering toward a farm field to land, a fire began burning in the engine compartment and progressed to the lower forward cabin near the pilot’s feet. He landed the airplane in a grassy field, and during the landing roll, the airplane impacted a ditch. The pilot exited the airplane and used the airplane’s fire extinguisher and mud from the ditch to put out the fire in the airplane’s engine compartment. Photographs of the airplane at the accident site revealed the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Holes were visible on the top of the engine crankcase. The wreckage has been retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N588C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N588C), registered now, S/N 108-3588, built 1947 (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: 108-3588
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 2421
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 18, 2025, 10 hours before
- Departed: 2WA1, Sequim, WA
- Destination: 55S, Packwood, WA
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: KNOW, 24 nm away
- METAR: METAR KNOW 121735Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 14/09 A2991 RMK AO2 T01430090

## 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 20260512005529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260512005529A), May 12, 2026: Stinson 108-3, Quilcene, WA, Substantial damage. At approximately 10:35 aircraft was southbound at 4000 feet AGL. While cruising at 2600 RPM pilot experienced sudden engine vibration and consequent engine…

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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