# NTSB DEN02LA062: Stinson 108-3, N6968M, Falcon, CO, June 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2002, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Falcon, CO - Coordinates: 38.945835, -104.569725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9458&lon=-104.5697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55087/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55087 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA062 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll and subsequent abort. Factors relating to the accident were the gusting crosswinds and the unsuitable terrain encountered when the airplane departed the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered (contributing factor) - abort - attempted, pilot in command - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot reported that on takeoff roll and at 40 miles per hour, he raised the tail of the airplane. Shortly after, the airplane started moving to the left of the center of the runway. The pilot reported he applied right rudder, but the airplane continued moving left as if a brake was dragging. The pilot reduced power in an attempt to abort the takeoff, but the airplane continued left off of the runway into the grass. The propeller struck the ground and the airplane went up on its nose and over on its back. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The reported winds at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 9 miles south-southwest of the airport was 100 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The owner of a fixed-base operation on the airport said that the winds were out of the west that day, approximately 260 degrees, and they were gusting. The owner could not provide an estimate of the wind speed, but said the winds were strong enough that they suspended flying operations. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2002, at 1545 mountain daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N6968M, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during initial takeoff roll, the airplane departed the left edge of runway 15 (6,000 feet by 60 feet, dry asphalt) at Meadow Lake Airport (OOV), Colorado Springs, Colorado, and nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that on takeoff roll and at 40 miles per hour, he raised the tail of the airplane. Shortly thereafter, the airplane started moving to the left of runway centerline. The pilot reported he applied right rudder, but the airplane continued moving left as if a brake was dragging. The pilot reduced power in an attempt to abort the takeoff, but the airplane continued left off of the runway into the grass. The propeller struck the ground and the airplane went up on its nose and over on its back. In a statement to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot said that there was a crosswind and there might have also been a brake hang-up. In a statement made to a fixed-base operator employee, just after the accident, the pilot said a gust of wind got him. An examination of the airplane revealed the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed downward. The spinner was bent inward. The wingtips were scraped. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The airplane's engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. At 1554, the Aviation Routine Weather Report for the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado, heading 205 degrees magnetic at 9 miles from OOV, was few clouds at 12,000 feet, visibility 8 miles, temperature 91 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 38 degrees F, winds 100 at 17 knots, gusts to 21 knots, and an altimeter of 30.19 degrees of Mercury. The owner of a fixed-base operation(FBO) at OOV said that the winds were out of the west that day, approximately 260 degrees, and they were gusting. The FBO owner could not provide and estimate of the wind speed, but said they were strong enough that they suspended flying operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6968M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6968M), registered now, S/N 108-4968, 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: 108-4968 - Airframe hours: 2349.8 - Engines: Franklin 64A-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald L. Weiss - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2002, 7.5 hours before - Departed: OOV, Falcon, CO - Airport: OOV, Meadow Lake Airport, runway 15, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 7, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 141 total, 120 in this make and model, 62 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 17 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: COS, 9 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 20020630018659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020630018659A), Jun 30, 2002: Univar 1083, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was on takeoff roll when he reported that he could not keep the aircraft on the center of the runway. It went off the left side of the runway… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55087. 469 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447818&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447819&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40167084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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. --- 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.