# NTSB CHI96LA138: Stinson 108-3, N6179M, Pontiac, MI, April 5, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 5, 1996, 18:07 local (22:07 UTC)
- Place: Pontiac, MI
- Coordinates: 42.459159, -83.180732 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4592&lon=-83.1807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10233
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10233/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA138

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll.  A factor relating to the accident was: the crosswind condition.

## 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
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the wind caught the airplane's tail and raised the right wing. He stated the left wingtip contacted the runway and the airplane ground looped. The airplane then nosed over before coming to rest. The pilot reported that the winds were from 350 degrees at 12 knots.

## Factual narrative

On April 5, 1996, at 1807 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N6179M, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged  during a crosswind landing on runway 27R (3251' x 75') at the Oakland-Pontiac Airport, Pontiac, Michigan.  The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The pilot reported no injuries.  The flight departed Pontiac, Michigan, exact time unknown.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the landing roll the wind caught the airplane's tail and raised the right wing.  The airplane's speed was about 10 miles per hour when the right wingtip raised up.  Shortly after this, the left wingtip contacted the runway and the airplane ground looped to the right.  The airplane nosed over onto its propeller spinner during the ground loop action.  The pilot said the winds were from 350 degrees magnetic at 12 knots.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector (POI), the pilot told him he had about 300 hours in the Stinson 108-3 airplane.  The POI said the pilot told him he had flown about 1 hour in the last 90 days.  The pilot's last training in tailwheel airplanes was during 1993.  Actual pilot flight time records were not found by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6179M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6179M), registered now, S/N 108-4179, built 1948 (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: 108-4179
- Airframe hours: 3244
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James G. Knight
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 1995, 1 hours before
- Departed: PDK
- Airport: PTK, Oakland-Pontiac, runway 27R, 3,251 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PTK

## 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 19960405014499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960405014499A), Apr 5, 1996: Univar 1083, Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the wind caught the airplane's tail and raised the right wing. He stated the left wingtip contacted the…

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.