# Accident 19990908025649A: Univar 1082, Birchwood, AK, September 8, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 8, 1999, 16:30 local time - Place: Birchwood, AK - Airport: Birchwood Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.4096° N, 149.1698° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4096&lon=-149.1698&mi=10 - Aircraft: N97978, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N97978) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Stinson 108-2 (registry code 9230406, https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-435A/0-435C (registry code 41517, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435a-0-435c) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: UNIVAR 1082 - Reported engine: LYC O435 - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 7,800 total, 13 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA137) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990908025649A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1999, ABOUT 2030 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED STINSON 108-2 AIRPLANE, N97978, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 19 AT THE BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT, CHUGIAK, ALASKA. THE FIRST PILOT, A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT, AND THE SECOND PILOT, A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, SEATED IN THE LEFT SEAT, WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH AN NTSB INVESTIGATOR ON SEPTEMBER 10, THE FIRST PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PROVIDING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION TO THE SECOND PILOT. HE SAID THAT EIGHT SUCCESSFUL STOP AND GO LANDINGS HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT LANDING. HE SAID THAT WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 19 AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE SECOND PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1999, ABOUT 2030 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED STINSON 108-2 AIRPLANE, N97978, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 10 AT THE BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT, CHUGIAK, ALASKA. THE FIRST PILOT, A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT, AND THE SECOND PILOT, A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, SEATED IN THE LEFT SEAT, WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING AN INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 21, THE FIRST PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PROVIDING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION TO THE SECOND PILOT. HE SAID THAT EIGHT SUCCESSFUL STOP AND GO LANDINGS HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT LANDING. HE SAID THAT WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 19 AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE SECOND PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, THE LEFT BRAKE PEDAL "FELT MUSHY" AND WAS LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THE RIGHT BRAKE. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. BECAUSE THE FIRST PILOT IS CURRENTLY ON A MILITARY ASSIGNMENT ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION IN ITEM 31, WILL BE SENT AS AN AMMENDMENT. (.4) THE FIRST PILOT, A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, WAS PROVIDING TAILWHEEL TRANSITION FLIGHT INSTRUCTION TO THE SECOND PILOT, A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT. THE FIRST PILOT SAID THAT EIGHT SUCCESSFUL STOP AND GO LANDINGS HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT LANDING. HE SAID THAT WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 19 AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE SECOND PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. THE FIRST PILOT SAID THAT BRAKE PEDALS WERE ONLY INSTALLED AT THE LEFT SIDE PILOT POSITION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE SECOND PILOT RELATED TO THE FIRST PILOT THAT DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, THE LEFT BRAKE PEDAL 'FELT MUSHY' AND WAS LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THE RIGHT BRAKE. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT, AND REPORTED SIGNS OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE LEFT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. HE ADDED THAT DISASSEMBLY OF THE LEFT BRAKE ASSEMBLY REVEALED 'SEVERELY WEATHERED AND WORN SEALS.' ## 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 ANC99LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA137), Sep 9, 1999: Stinson 108-2 (N97978), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial failure of the brake system. A factor associated with the accident was a leaking brake system. ## Other reports on N97978 (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19930808028379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930808028379A), Aug 8, 1993: Univar 1082 (N97978), Near Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to takeoff float equipped 108 unable to lift. Ran out of lake into swamp at end of lake. 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.