- Date
- August 23, 2012, 17:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place
- Winter Haven, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N340CStinson 108-2
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 11, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120823019869A
- Case key
- 84797
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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, shortly after applying takeoff power, he allowed the tail of the airplane to lift off the ground "too early," and the airplane veered to the left into the grass. The airplane subsequently impacted the precision approach path indicator lights. The pilot flew the airplane around the airport traffic pattern and landed uneventfully. A postaccident examination revealed that the aft bulkhead was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, shortly after applying takeoff power he allowed the tail of the airplane to lift off the ground "too early" and the airplane veered to the left into the grass. The airplane, subsequently, impacted the precision approach path indicator lights with the underside of the airplane. He flew the airplane around the airport traffic pattern and landed uneventfully. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the aft bulkhead was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N340C
- Reported as
- Stinson 108-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-3340
- Airframe hours
- 2,129
- Engine
- Franklin 6A4150 - B3, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 26, 2012
- Departed
- GIF · Winter Haven, FL
- Destination
- GIF · Winter Haven, FL
- Airport
- GIF · Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport, runway 05, 5,005 × 100 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
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 11, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,238 total · 43 in this make and model · 1,110 as pilot in command · 47 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- GIF
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.