# NTSB DEN83LA088: Stinson 108-2, N434C, Aspen, CO, March 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1983, 15:41 local (22:41 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Coordinates: 39.190834, -106.819885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1908&lon=-106.8199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16058
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16058/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA088

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE INBOUND, THE PLT CHECKED THE ATIS WHICH WAS REPORTING A WIND FROM 350 DEG AT 10 KTS. HE CONTINUED INBOUND, AND WHEN HE CHECKED WITH THE TOWER, THE WIND WAS FROM 350 DEG AT 6 KTS. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON THE RWY OF HIS CHOICE, HE STATED THAT HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 15 INSTEAD OF RWY 33, SINCE RWY I5 SLOPED UPHILL. REPORTEDLY, AT APRC 75 FT AGL, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE & A DOWNDRAFT OR WIND SHEAR. THE PLT APPLIED POWER, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A 3-POINT ATTITUDE, THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN TO ABOUT 30 FT AGL. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE LANDING SINCE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RWY REMAINING. HOWEVER, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AGAIN & THEN AFTER IT TOUCHED DOWN A GUST OF WIND WAS ALSO ENCOUNTERED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY ONTO SNOW COVERED TERRAIN & NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N434C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N434C-2012-11-21), registration cancelled 2012-11-21, S/N 108-3434, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STINSON 108-2
- Registry model: [Stinson 108-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-2) (registry code 9230406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 108-3434
- Engines: FRANKLIN 165HC 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald E. Murphy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: RIL, RIFLE, CO
- Destination: ASE, ASPEN, CO
- Airport: ASE, Aspen, runway 15, 6,001 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 61 total, 61 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE

## 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 19830330010119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830330010119A), Mar 30, 1983: Univar 1082, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot encountered turbulence while attempting a downwind landing. Aircraft went off runway and nosed over in snow.

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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