# Accident 19980417007239A: Univar 1081, Tecumseh, MI, April 17, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 17, 1998, 17:50 local time - Place: Tecumseh, MI - Airport: Merillat Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 41.9996° N, 83.9391° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9996&lon=-83.9391&mi=10 - Aircraft: N97876, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N97876) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Stinson 108-1 (registry code 9230404, https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Franklin 6A4150 series (registry code 27024, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: UNIVAR 1081 - Reported engine: FRNKLN 6A4150B3 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 20,660 total, 298 in this make and model, 176 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA132) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980417007239A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AT THE END OF THE LANDING ROLL. (.19) ON APRIL 17, 1998, AT 1750 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), A STINSON 108- 1, N97876, OPERATED BY AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED PILOT NOSED OVER AT THE END OF A LANDING ROLL AT THE MERILLAT AIRPORT, TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN CROSWELL, MICHIGAN. THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 36 (4,900' X 100') WITH A GUSTY WIND FROM THE WEST. HE STATED HE MADE A WHEEL LANDING AND "...AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED THE RIGHT MAIN CAME DOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO WEATHER VANE TO THE WEST." HE REPORTED HE APPLIED A LITTLE RIGHT BRAKE AT WHICH TIME THE "...TAIL CAME UP... ." HE REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ELEVATOR AUTHORITY TO LOWER THE TAIL AND THE PROPELLER HIT THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE SLID ON THE LOWER COWLING FOR ABOUT 18' PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER. WIND CONDITIONS REPORTED AT ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, AT 1753 EDT, WERE FROM 280 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER MAKING A WHEEL LANDING. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO WEATHER VANE TO THE LEFT. HE REPORTED APPLYING THE RIGHT BRAKE AT WHICH TIME THE TAIL BEGAN TO RISE. HE STATED HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ELEVATOR AUTHORITY TO LOWER THE TAIL AND THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SLID 18 FEET ON THE COWLING PRIOR TO IT NOSING OVER. THE LANDING WAS MADE ON RUNWAY 36 WITH REPORTED WINDS, 11 MILES AWAY, FROM 280 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS. (-23) PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY 36 IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. HE WAS DOING WHEEL LANDINGS. A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT TAIL AS THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. NO INJURIES, NO FIRE. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI98LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA132), Apr 17, 1998: Stinson 108-1 (N97876), Tecumseh, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factors were wind gusts and crosswind. ## Other reports on N97876 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20070306003019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070306003019I), Mar 6, 2007: Univar 1081 (N97876), Manhattan, KS. (-23) Upon landing at kmhk, pilot lost control of his airplane and the tail spun around. Pilot stated he thought he had a flat tire. Pilot stated that the… - [Accident 19780402007749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780402007749A), Apr 2, 1978: Univar 1081 (N97876), Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.