20130714013399A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Universal Stinson 108-1 · Hector, MN · July 14, 2013

Date: July 14, 2013 · 18:15 local
Place: Hector, MN
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N855F
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN13CA412
Reported as: Universal Stinson 108-1
Reported engine: Franklin 6A4150 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 82 total3 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N855FRegistered now · Universal Stinson 108-1S/N 108-1519 · Built 1947 Airframe modelUniversal Stinson 108-1 Engine modelFranklin 6A4150 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot lined up for departure from runway 23 at the Hector, MN airport (1D6). She applied one notch of flaps as she was going to perform a soft field takeoff from the turf runway.

The pilot applied full power and the aircraft began to accelerate. Early in the takeoff roll, the aircraft crosses a paved runway and begins to steer towards the left side of runway 23.

The pilot instinctively tapped the right toe brake momentarily before remembering she shouldn't do that in a conventional gear aircraft. She released the brake, added right aileron, and believes she added right rudder as well.

As the aircraft was continuing to the left and leaving the runway 23 boundary, her passenger, also a certified pilot, called out for an abort. The aircraft began to slow, striking the right wingtip and subsequently flipping onto its back.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT LINED UP FOR DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY 23 AT THE HECTOR, MN AIRPORT (1D6). SHE APPLIED ONE NOTCH OF FLAPS AS SHE WAS GOING TO PERFORM A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF FROM THE TURF RUNWAY.

THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. EARLY IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT CROSSES A PAVED RUNWAY AND BEGINS TO STEER TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 23.

THE PILOT INSTINCTIVELY TAPPED THE RIGHT TOE BRAKE MOMENTARILY BEFORE REMEMBERING SHE SHOULDN'T DO THAT IN A CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRCRAFT. SHE RELEASED THE BRAKE, ADDED RIGHT AILERON, AND BELIEVES SHE ADDED RIGHT RUDDER AS WELL.

AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONTINUING TO THE LEFT AND LEAVING THE RUNWAY 23 BOUNDARY, HER PASSENGER, ALSO A CERTIFIED PILOT, CALLED OUT FOR AN ABORT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SLOW, STRIKING THE RIGHT WINGTIP AND SUBSEQUENTLY FLIPPING ONTO ITS BACK.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN13CA412Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHector, MNThe pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes and failure to main directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.Jul 14, 2013 · Substantial damage