# NTSB CEN24LA214: Stinson Vultee V-77, N88026, Slaton, TX, June 9, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 9, 2024, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Slaton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.484508, -101.66094
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4845&lon=-101.6609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194420
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA214
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194420/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194420
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA214

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after landing in gusting wind conditions which resulted in a runway excursion and the airplane nosing over. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to conduct the flight in very strong, gusting 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 VULTEE V-77, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8631802), [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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson VULTEE V-77, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8631802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson VULTEE V-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8631802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson VULTEE V-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=8631802), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson VULTEE V-77, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=8631802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll and as he was preparing to turn onto a taxiway, they encountered a gust of wind. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, left and right wings, and the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the airplane had landed on runway 17 with recorded wind of 030o at 21 knots, gusting to 44 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88026](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88026), registered now, S/N 77-411, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON VULTEE V-77
- Registry model: [Stinson VULTEE V-77](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-vultee-v-77) (registry code 8631802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 77-411
- Year built: 1944
- Engines: Lycoming R-680-13 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Texas Air Museum
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 2023, 8 hours before
- Departed: KLBB, Lubbock, TX
- Airport: F49, City Of Slaton/Larry T Neal Meml, runway 18/36, 4,244 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 20, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 31,103 total, 20 in this make and model, 30,424 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 21 knots, gusting 44
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KLBB, 14 nm away
- METAR: SPECI KLBB 092134Z 03021G44KT 6SM TS BLDU BKN070CB BKN095 BKN140 25/16 A2995 RMK AO2 PK WND 03044/2128 WSHFT 2110 LTG DSNT NE TSB14 OCNL LTGICCG NW-NE TS NW-NE MOV W T02500156 $=

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194420. 7.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17271557&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot_Redacted2-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17252815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Correspondence - law enforcement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17254524&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20DPS%20Trooper-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17250957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Meteorology - metars (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 420 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17270568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METARs-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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