# NTSB ANC15CA013: Stinson 108, N4449P, Cordova, AK, March 1, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 1, 2015, 11:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Cordova, AK
- Coordinates: 60.365001, -146.183883 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3650&lon=-146.1839&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90859
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90859/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90859
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA013

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a collision with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing on a beach in his tailwheel equipped airplane. During the landing, the pilot lost control of the airplane and ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing on a beach in his tailwheel equipped airplane. During the landing, the pilot lost control of the airplane and ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No further information is available as the pilot has failed to submit NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4449P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4449P), registered now, S/N 1083565, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108
- Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1083565
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 2261
- Engines: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Irving, Mark
- Registered owner: Irving, Mark
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CKU, CORDOVA, AK
- Destination: CKU, Cordova, AK
- Airport: CKU, Cordova Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2014; seat: front; flight hours: 85 total, 24 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: PACV, 23 nm away

## 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 20150301007029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150301007029A), Mar 1, 2015: Stinson 108-3, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. Initial statement to NTSB investigator by pilot[privacy data omitted] was that Stinson 108-3 N4449P aircraft ground looped on landing off airport damaging left…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 18, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90859. 147 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-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.

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