What happened
On March 27, 2011, a Stinson 108, registration N97383, crashed into terrain near Dickens, Texas, resulting in 3 fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated under Part 91 for personal use, flying from a private airfield toward a refueling stop, with a final destination of Rockdale, Texas. The flight was conducted without a filed flight plan.
At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with overcast skies at 500 feet and visibility of 5 miles in mist. The wreckage was discovered by a local resident in a pasture area approximately 1.25 miles southeast of the departure airfield. The aircraft sustained substantial damage upon impact and was largely destroyed by a post-impact fire.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found ground scars indicating an impact heading of 300 degrees. The engine had separated from the fuselage 12 feet past the primary impact crater. While the tachometer was too damaged to provide a current reading, records showed the engine had 40 hours since its last major overhaul.
Mechanical examination of the flight controls established continuity between the cockpit and the control surfaces. The elevator trim was in the neutral position. The engine showed signs of thermal damage and the crankshaft was slightly bent, but no mechanical anomalies were found that would have prevented normal operation. A review of the pilot's records indicated he held a private pilot certificate but did not possess an instrument rating. His logbook showed no experience flying in actual instrument conditions.