- Date
- January 26, 1996, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sandstone, MN
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N653CStinson 108-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960126001139A
- Case key
- 10193
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 selection of an ice-covered runway for takeoff. A factor was the icy runway.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said the runway was completely covered with ice, and snowbanks 5-8 feet high were on both sides of the runway. During the takeoff roll he could not maintain directional control, and the airplane's right wing tip, propeller and nose struck the snowbank along the side of the runway.
Factual narrative
On January 26, 1996, at 1300 central standard time, a Stinson 108-3, N653C, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the airplane struck a snowbank during takeoff on runway 17 (2900'x60' asphalt) at the Sandstone Municipal Airport, Sandstone, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries.
The pilot was contacted by the investigator in charge (IIC) on February 7, 1996. The pilot said the runway was completely covered with ice, and snowbanks five to eight feet high were present on both sides of the runway. The pilot reported that during takeoff roll he could not maintain directional control of the airplane. The pilot said there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
The airplane's right wing was bent back approximately four feet, and the cowling was also bent as a result of the impact with the snowbank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N653C
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-3653
- Airframe hours
- 2,000
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4-165-B3, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary L Guptill
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1995 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- 57Y
- Airport
- 57Y · Sandstone, runway 17, 2,900 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 33 in this make and model · 110 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 7 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 19D, 40 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.
Other investigations on N653C · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.