- Date
- April 12, 1989, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aurora, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N993CStinson 108-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890412008349A
- Case key
- 17697
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The inadequate compensation for wind conditions by the pilot. Lack of recent experience in the type of aircraft is considered a contributing factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The commercial plt/a&p/ia was completing over haul and restoration of the Stinson. According to the private rated pax, the plt decided to take the plane around the pattern for a test flight. The plt said in his written report that no flight was intended. Both the plt and the pax agree that during takeoff ground run, a strong gust hit the plane, raising the right wing. The acft departed the runway to the left, the left wing struck the terrain, and the acft cartwheeled. The fuselage, both wing spars, and the stabilator were broken. A post accident inspection revealed evidence that the acft had been moved from the accident scene to the rear of a hangar, stripped of all instrumentation, and abandoned. Witnesses and the airport manager reported the accident the following day. The plt did not report the accident to the NTSB or FAA until contacted by letter. The plt reported that a 'dust devil' struck the aircraft but the pax and witnesses reported a strong gust.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N993C
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1083993
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4-165-B3, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Lepka, Richard L.
- Departed
- 01V
- Destination
- O1V
- Airport
- 01V · Aurora, runway 32, 5,000 × 40 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 548 total · 26 in this make and model · 300 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.