- Date
- June 24, 2009, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Llano, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6939MStinson 108-3
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- San Antonion FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090624012339A
- Case key
- 74126
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to the failure of the left main landing gear wheel, which resulted in the separation of the wheel from the aircraft.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight. During the rollout after his third landing, the aircraft began to pull to the left. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control but the left main gear separated, causing the aircraft to nose over onto its back. The left main wheel and brake caliper were located several hundred feet behind the aircraft, along the rollout path. A mechanic who inspected the aircraft after the accident reported that the inner wheel half was broken around the brake disc mounting flange. The mechanic stated that there was no bluing from excessive heat or any signs that the bearings had failed.
Factual narrative
On June 24, 20094, approximately 1130 central daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N6939M, registered to and operated by a student pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over on landing roll at Llano Municipal Airport (AQO), Llano, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The student pilot was not injured. The local flight originated from Llano approximately 1120. The student pilot was soloing for the first time. During the third landing rollout, the airplane began to pull to the left. The student pilot attempted to maintain directional control but the left main gear separated, causing the airplane to nose over onto its back. The left main wheel and brake caliper were located several hundred feet behind the airplane, along the rollout path. A mechanic who later inspected the airplane after the accident reported that the inner wheel half was broken around the brake disc mounting flange. The mechanic stated there was no bluing from excessive heat or any signs that the bearings had failed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6939M
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-4939
- Engine
- Franklin 64A--165-B3, 165 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- AQO · Llano, TX
- Destination
- AQO · Llano, TX
- Airport
- AQO · Llano Municipal, runway 13, 3,240 × 150 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 31 total · 31 in this make and model · 1 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- AQO
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6939M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.