# NTSB DEN03LA131: Stinson 108-3, N121N, Vernal, UT, July 6, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2003, 10:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Vernal, UT
- Coordinates: 40.446109, -109.500274
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4461&lon=-109.5003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57502
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57502/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA131

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control during landing that resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent

## Analysis

The pilot was landing on runway 34. The tail wheel touched down first and the airplane bounced on its main landing gear. The pilot "overcorrected first right, then left," and the airplane skidded "with the left wing down" and went off the left side of the runway. Postaccident examination revealed the top left wing skin was wrinkled and several ribs were damaged. The AWOS observation indicated the wind was calm.

## Factual narrative

On July 6, 2003, approximately 1010 mountain daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N121N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at Vernal Airport, Vernal, Utah. The private pilot and his three passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Fort Collins, Colorado, approximately 0730.

According to the pilot's accident report, he was landing on runway 34. The tail wheel touched down first and the airplane bounced on its main landing gear. The pilot "overcorrected first right, then left," and the airplane skidded "with the left wing down" and went off the left side of the runway. Postaccident examination revealed the top left wing skin was wrinkled and several ribs were damaged.

The 0953 AWOS observation at Vernal, Utah, indicated the wind was calm.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N121N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121N), registered now, S/N 108-4449, 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: 108-4449
- Airframe hours: 2798
- Engines: Franklin 6A4-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul J. Foster
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, June 14, 2003, 19 hours before
- Departed: 3V5, Fort Collins, CO
- Destination: VEL, Vernal, UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: VEL, Vernal, runway 34, 6,200 × 150 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 September 14, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 830 total, 78 in this make and model, 686 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: VEL

## 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 20030706013679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030706013679A), Jul 6, 2003: Univar 1083, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was executing a VFR approach and landing on runway 34 at Vernal, Utah airport. The airplane entered a ground loop. This was originally…

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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