# Accident 19990929032429A: Stnson L5, Woodward, OK, September 29, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 29, 1999, 14:45 local time - Place: Woodward, OK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.4209° N, 99.4003° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4209&lon=-99.4003&mi=10 - Aircraft: N68591, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68591) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Stinson L-5 (registry code 8630202, https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-l-5) (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: STNSON L5 - Reported engine: LYC O435 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,027 total, 15 in this make and model, 132 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA271) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990929032429A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1999, AT 1445 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A STINSON L-5 VINTAGE AIRPLANE, N68591, REGISTERED TO THE AMERICAN AIRPOWER HERITAGE FLYING MUSEUM AND OPERATED BY THE CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE OF MIDLAND, TEXAS, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR WOODWARD, ARKANSAS. THE PRIVATE PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM HUTCHINSON, KANSAS, AT 1300, WITH A DESTINATION OF MIDLAND, TEXAS. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED AN "EXTREME" VIBRATION. DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING TO A COUNTY ROAD, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT, IMPACTING A DITCH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED, AND THE RIGHT WING WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE PROPELLER BLADES WAS MISSING A METAL TIP, AND THE WOOD BENEATH THIS MISSING METAL TIP WAS DISCOLORED. (.4)DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED AN 'EXTREME' VIBRATION. DURING THE ENSUING PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A DIRT ROAD, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT, IMPACTING A DITCH. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE BLADES OF THE WOODEN PROPELLER WAS MISSING ITS METAL TIP. (-23)ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1999, PILOT WAS ENROUTE TO CHILDERS, TX FOR HIS NEXT FUEL STOP. WHILE CRUISING AT 4,500 FEET, IMMEDIATE VIBRATION STARTED WITH POSSIBLE POP NOTED. THE SHAKING DID NOT STOP WHEN PULLED POWER TO IDLE WHILE CRUISING AT 2,300 RPM. PILOT THEN TURNED AIRCRAFT 90 DEGREES TOWARD WOODWARD AIRPORT. PILOT COUND NOT IDENTIFY WHERE VIBRATION WAS COMING FROM AND COULD NOT READ INSTRUMENTS DUE TO VIBRATION. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT SO HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR HIT LOOSE DIRT, SPINNING THE AIRCRAFT, CAUSING THE RIGHT WING AND PROP TO HIT THE GROUND. ## 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 FTW99LA271](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA271), Sep 29, 1999: Stinson L-5 (N68591), Woodward, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of the tip of a wood propeller blade. Contributing factors were the soft terrain and ditch encountered during the precautionary landing. ## Other reports on N68591 (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19890806027449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890806027449A), Aug 6, 1989: Stnson L5 (N68591), Minneapolis, MN, Substantial damage. Lost control trying to takeoff in strong crosswind. Left runway and moved over. 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.