20161216022149A

On December 16, 2016 at 1045 eastern standard time, a Stinson 108-3 aircraft, N812C, registered to and operated by a private pilot, received substantial damage when the right wingtip struck the ground causing the aircraft to flip onto its back during landing on snow south of runway 27 at Ionia County Airport (Y70), Ionia, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated from the lowell city airport, lowell, Michigan (24C) at approximately 1025.

According to the pilot, who is also an aircraft and powerplant mechanic, he installed skis on the aircraft two days prior and this was the first ski flight of the winter season. The pilot departed lowell airport and soon after liftoff heard a thump then noticed the left ski was in a near vertical position against the left wing strut. The pilot decided to divert the local flight to Ionia for its longer snow covered landing surface and that airport personnel would be present in case he ?needed any help.? During the landing sequence the pilot tried to drag the heel of the left ski thru the snow in an attempt to get the ski to move into a horizontal (landing) position. The ski remained in the near vertical position during the landing causing the aircraft to roll right as the aircraft settled to the ground. The right wing tip then made contact with the ground subsequently flipping the aircraft on to its back. The aircraft came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was not injured and was able to exit the aircraft unassisted.

Weather for the local area at the time of the accident was reported to be: wind 190 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered 3300, overcast 10,000, temperature -10, dew point -13, altimeter 30.26.