Stinson 108 N97684
16 November 1991 · Spanishburg, West Virginia, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 16 November 1991 at about 23:00 local time, a Stinson 108 registered N97684, operated by Larry D. Misenhelder, was involved in an accident near Spanishburg, West Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Spanishburg, West Virginia, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.4491, -81.1098
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108
- Registration
- N97684
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Larry D. Misenhelder
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Statesville → Mercer County
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO92LA007
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW CEILING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA TO CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT DESCENDED THROUGH AN OVERCAST AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD OBTAINED A COMPUTER RADAR WEATHER REPORT IN STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH WAS REPORTING 4500 FEET CEILING AND 20 MILES VISIBILITY. ACCORDING TO THE FAA, WHILE EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT CLIMBED AS HIGH AS 9000 FEET TO AVOID THE CLOUDS. AFTER CROSSING THE FIRST MOUNTAIN RIDGE, HE DESCENDED TO 500 FEET. HE STATED THAT HE SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO 70 KNOTS AND CONTINUED HIS DESCENT SO AS TO REGAIN SIGHT OF THE GROUND. THE NEAREST WEATHER STATION, ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY, REPORTED THE WEATHER AS OBSCURED SKY AND ONE-EIGHT OF A MILE VISIBILITY IN LIGHT DRIZZLE AND FOG.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Stinson 108 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1991 | Stinson 108-1 | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Donald Badtram/Stephen Innes | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Stinson 108-1 | Elwood, Indiana, United States | Hunt, David A. | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1991 | Stinson 108 | Fort Greely, Alaska, United States | Raymond J. Goglia | No injuries | - |
| 25 May 1991 | Stinson 108-2 | Gold Bar, Washington, United States | SEE Narrative Report | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Oct 1991 | Stinson 108-8 | Susanville, California, United States | Roach, Thomas R | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1991 | Stinson 108-2 | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | Hoback, Frank | No injuries | - |
All 1,217 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Elkins, West Virginia, United States | Allen D Chenoweth | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1991 | Cessna 172M | Beckley, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1991 | Cessna A185F | Norton, West Virginia, United States | Dewey B. Durrett | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Sep 1991 | Piper PA-28-181 | Belington, West Virginia, United States | Stear, Jackson C. & Barbara J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Oct 1991 | Cessna T210N | Wheeling, West Virginia, United States | Marcia S Morton | No injuries | - |
| 8 Dec 1991 | John W Upton SA-300 | Leon, West Virginia, United States | John W. Upton | No injuries | - |