# NTSB ATL02LA098: Stinson 108-3, N2243M, Tuscaloosa, AL, May 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2002, 13:59 local (18:59 UTC) - Place: Tuscaloosa, AL - Coordinates: 33.224426, -87.608152 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2244&lon=-87.6082&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54711 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54711/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54711 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA098 ## Probable cause The pilots loss of directional control during landing roll, and subsequent inadvertent ground loop. ## 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) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During the landing roll the pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and veered off to the right of the runway.The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane reentered the runway and ground looped. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2002, at 1359 central daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N2243M, owned and operated by a commercial pilot, lost directional control, and collapsed the main landing gear during landing roll at Tuscaloosa Municipal Airport, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight departed Marianna, Florida, at 1240 eastern daylight time. According to the pilot, he was on a cross-country flight from Marianna, Florida, to Fayetteville, Alabama, when he became concerned about the fuel consumption of his airplane. He decided to divert to Tuscaloosa Municipal Airport. During the approach to Tuscaloosa he lost radio communication with the air traffic control tower. The pilot conducted the necessary radio out procedures, and landed on runway 22. During the landing roll, the pilot stated he lost control of the airplane, and veered off the right of runway 22. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane reentered the runway and ground looped. Examination of the airplane revealed, the right main landing gear was collapsed. The right wing spars and stringers were buckled. The fuselage was also buckled from the horizontal stabilizer forward to the cabin area. No flight control or mechanical malfunctions were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2243M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2243M), registered now, S/N 108-4127 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-3 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-435](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435) (registry code 41516, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-4127 - Airframe hours: 2778 - Engines: Lycoming O-435-C 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jimmy G White - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2001, 36 hours before - Departed: MAI, MARIANNA, FL - Destination: TCL, TUSCALOOSA, AL - Airport: TCL, Tuscaloosa Muni, runway 22, 6,499 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 10, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,003 total, 34 in this make and model, 1,547 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: TCL ## 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 20020513009599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020513009599A), May 13, 2002: Univar 1083, Tuscaloosa, AL, No damage. (-23) N2243 approached Tuscaloosa airport without radio contact. The aircraft circled the airport and was given the appropriate ATC light signal "cleared to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54711. 344 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Weather Info. (item 3, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40174792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Info.-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.