# NTSB DEN02LA108: Stinson L-5E, N8369H, Spanish Fork, UT, September 14, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 2002, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Coordinates: 40.141387, -111.661109
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1414&lon=-111.6611&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Salt Lake City Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA108

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate use of rudder and failure to maintain direcctional control following a bounced landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's improper recovery from the bounced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - rudder - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

The airplane landed hard and bounced, and the pilot added power. When the airplane touched down again, the nose had drifted to the right and the airplane departed the runway. The pilot said, "I don't believe I applied sufficient rudder to offset the p-factor of the added power." The left main landing gear dropped into a hole and broke off. The airplane fell to the ground, damaging the outboard portion of the left wing spar and wing tip. The wooden prop was shattered, the firewall was wrinkled, and the carburetor and exhaust system were damaged.

## Factual narrative

On September 14, 2002, approximately 1130 mountain daylight time, a Stinson L-5E, N8369H, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following a hard landing at Spanish Fork-Springville Airport, Spanish Fork, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated approximately 1040 from Nephi Municipal Airport, Nephi, Utah.

According to the pilot's accident report and a previous telephone conversation, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The pilot said he added power. When the airplane touched down, "the nose had drifted to the right" and the airplane departed the runway. "I don't believe I applied sufficient rudder to offset the p-factor of the added power," the pilot wrote. The left main landing gear dropped into a hole and broke off. The airplane fell to the ground, damaging the outboard portion of the left wing spar and wing tip. The wooden prop was shattered, the firewall was wrinkled, and the carburetor and exhaust system were damaged.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8369H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8369H), registered now, S/N 44-17504 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Stinson L-5E
- Registry model: [Stinson L-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-l-5) (registry code 8630202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-435A/0-435C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-435a-0-435c) (registry code 41517, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 44-17504
- Airframe hours: 3203
- Engines: Lycoming O-435-1 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kim H. Peterson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2002, 11 hours before
- Departed: U14, Nephi Municipal, UT
- Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT
- Airport: U77, Spanish Fork-Springville, runway 12, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 14, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 446 total, 34 in this make and model, 353 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: PVU, 7 nm away

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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