Pilot Debrief

STINSON 108-3 near Quilcene, WA — 2026-05-12

Investigation ongoingWPR26LA183
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Date
2026-05-12
Location
Quilcene, WA, USA
Aircraft
STINSON 108-3
Registration
N588C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

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.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (total) · Enroute-cruise
  • Engine Failure Enroute
View NTSB preliminary report

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