# NTSB ANC03LA028: Stinson 108-1, N71X, Sitka, AK, February 11, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 11, 2003, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Sitka, AK - Coordinates: 57.047222, -135.361663 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.0472&lon=-135.3617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56482/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56482 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop, and the collapse of the right main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a hard-surfaced runway in calm, or nearly calm, wind conditions. The pilot said he made an intentional main gear wheel landing, and kept the tailwheel off the runway for a portion of the landing roll. When he lowered the tailwheel to the runway, he lost directional control, and the airplane swerved to the left. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the runway. The right wing and the right main landing gear gearbox received substantial damage. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot stated that the airplane was going too fast when he elected to lower the tailwheel onto the runway, and he believes the excessive speed precipitated a loss of control. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2003, about 1205 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Stinson 108-1 airplane, N71X, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing at the Sitka Airport, Sitka, Alaska. The Title 14, CFR Part 91 local area personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The private pilot/airplane owner and the three passengers were not injured. The flight originated at the Sitka Airport about 1130. The NTSB investigator-in-charge had a telephone conversation with the accident pilot on February 12. The pilot related that he was landing on runway 11 in light wind conditions. He estimated the wind to be a direct headwind, about 5 knots or less. He said he made a wheel landing, and when he lowered the tailwheel onto the runway, he was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane subsequently swerved hard to the left, collapsing the right main landing gear, and striking the right wing on the runway. He said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and he believes he lost directional control because he was going too fast when he lowered the tailwheel onto the runway. His postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed substantial damage to right main landing gear gearbox and fuselage support structure, and about 3 feet of the right outboard wing and aileron. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71X), registered now, S/N 108-1285, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-1 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1) (registry code 9230404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1285 - Airframe hours: 2960 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-150-B3 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jere A. Crew - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 2002, 8 hours before - Departed: SIT, Sitka, AK - Airport: SIT, Sitka, runway 11, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 9, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 360 total, 78 in this make and model, 313 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: PASI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030211001609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030211001609A), Feb 11, 2003: Univar 1081, Sitka, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Spoke with pilot on 02-11-03 at approximately 13:45 and he stated that he "lost the tail" on landing in Sitka. This disclosure by the pilot in failing to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 8, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56482. 524 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.