# NTSB CEN20CA204: Stinson 108, N6518M, Denver, CO, June 1, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 1, 2020, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.794166, -104.55055 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7942&lon=-104.5506&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101357
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA204
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101357/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101357
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA204

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing during variable wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [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)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; 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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [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)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot landed at the airport in a tail-wheel equipped airplane, when he lost directional control and the airplane ground looped. During the ground loop the wing contacted the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The rudder and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. Post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any flight control anomalies. Wind recorded at the time of the accident reported variable wind at speeds between 4 and 8 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6518M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6518M), registered now, S/N 108-4518, built 1949 (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: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 108-4518
- Year built: 1949
- Engines: Franklin 6A4165 SERIES 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Private Individual
- Registered owner: Denver Rock Island Railroad
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CFO, Denver, CO
- Destination: CFO, Denver, CO
- Airport: CFO, Colorado Air And Space Port, runway 26, 8,002 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 11, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 829 total, 25 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KDEN, 5 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 20200601010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200601010839A), Jun 1, 2020: Stinson 108-3, Watkins, CO, Substantial damage. On June 6, 2020 at approximately 1119 MST, N6518M, a Stinson model 108-3 aircraft was substantially damaged during an attempt to land at the Colorado Air And…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101357. 667 KB in all.

- Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11462592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airman%20Personal%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Case notes (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11463347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Case%20Notes-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 435 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11465454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20CEN20CA204-Rel.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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