Register

Experiencing That Shaky Feeling

Up a creek and down a paddle: A Stinson trip to Alaska

Some mechanical assistance with an antique Franklin engine was needed on a Stinson 108 trek to Alaska. [Courtesy: Sam Weigel]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • While flying their Stinson 108 towards Alaska over remote Canadian wilderness, a pilot and his wife experienced a sudden engine failure (one cylinder out).
  • The pilot skillfully managed the emergency, opting to divert to Burns Lake airport, where they successfully landed despite a tailwheel chain issue.
  • The engine's broken rocker arm was repaired locally, but the Alaska trip was ultimately aborted due to a loss of confidence in the engine; the pilot, however, gained valuable experience and plans to reattempt the journey in 2025 after rebuilding trust in the aircraft.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The change, when it came, was immediate and profound.

One second, my wife, Dawn, and I were enjoying our lofty morning view of the hundred miles of mountainous Canadian wilderness stretching out before us with our Stinson 108’s Franklin engine purring steadily along as we crossed the slender ribbon of water that marked the end of roaded civilization. The next second, the purr abruptly devolved to a ragged staccato, the tachometer dropped several hundred rpm, and the rugged hinterlands of British Columbia took on a Gaussian blur as the vibration of the engine shook the entire airframe and hence my eyeballs. 

Sam Weigel

Sam Weigel has been an airplane nut since an early age, and when he's not flying the Boeing 737 for work, he enjoys going low and slow in vintage taildraggers. He and his wife live west of Seattle, where they are building an aviation homestead on a private 2,400-foot grass airstrip.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE