# NTSB ANC95LA091: Stinson 108-2, N9600K, Shishmaref, AK, July 1, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1995, 21:30 local (Jul 1, 1995, 05:30 UTC)
- Place: Shishmaref, AK
- Coordinates: 66.020935, -165.910919 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.0209&lon=-165.9109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2676
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2676/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA091

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, WHILE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING.  FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO LOWER THE FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH HIS TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE FROM A ROUGH, PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS BOUNCING DURING THE PRETAKEOFF TAXI, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE CHECKLIST. HE SAID HE NEGLECTED TO LOWER THE WING FLAPS, AND THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO BECOME AIRBORNE BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSING OVER. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO HIS FORGETTING TO LOWER THE FLAPS. HE ALSO NOTED THAT GUSTING WINDS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WERE CAUSING LOCALIZED DOWNDRAFTS.

## Factual narrative

On June 30, 1995, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Stinson 108-2 airplane, N9600K, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from a private sod airstrip at Serpentine Hot Springs, located about 45 miles southeast of Shishmaref, Alaska.  The private pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured.  The personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in- charge on July 1, the pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff to the west from the approximately 1200' long airstrip.  He said the airplane did not become airborne prior to colliding with bushes at the end of the airstrip.  The airplane continued through the bushes and subsequently nosed over. The pilot attributed the overrun to his failure to lower the airplane's flaps prior to beginning the takeoff roll. He said the airplane was bouncing too much to read the checklist during the pretakeoff taxi, and he forgot to lower the flaps.

The pilot's written statement to the NTSB dated July 13, contains similar information as above, but adds that there were gusting wind conditions near the departure end of the runway which caused downdrafts.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9600K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9600K-2019-03-07), registration cancelled 2019-03-07, S/N 108-2600, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-2
- Registry model: [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (registry code 9230406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 108-2600
- Airframe hours: 2400
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert D. Douglass
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1995, 15 hours before
- Destination: OTZ, KOTZEBUE, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Serpentine Hot Springs

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 92 total, 88 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19950630045469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950630045469A), Jun 30, 1995: Univar 1082, Shishmaref, AK, Substantial damage. Tried takeoff on 1200 foot soft strip without using flaps and quartering tailwind. Ran off into brush. Nosed over.

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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