# NTSB FTW98LA397: Stinson 108-1, N8548K, Tahlequah, OK, September 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 1998, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Tahlequah, OK - Coordinates: 35.91085, -94.970954 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9109&lon=-94.9710&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA397 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43918/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA397 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during takeoff. A factor was the gusty wind conditions at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the airplane during takeoff from runway 17 when a gust of wind pitched the airplane to a 25-30 degrees nose up attitude and rolled the airplane right. The pilot lowered the nose of the aircraft; however, the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway where it impacted the ground with the right wing and subsequently came to rest inverted. The nearest weather observation facility is located at Davis Field near Muskogee, Oklahoma, which is 23 nautical miles southwest of Tahlequah Municipal Airport. At 0953 the facility recorded the winds at 110 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. A witness stated that he saw 'dust devils' in the vicinity of the airport at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 1998, at 1100 central daylight time, a Stinson 108-1 tail-wheel equipped airplane, N8548K, was substantially damaged upon impact with the ground during takeoff from the Tahlequah Municipal Airport near Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight destined for Okemah, Oklahoma. During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that an annual inspection had just been completed on the airplane and he planned to fly the airplane back to its home base. The pilot stated that the run-up and systems check were normal. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll from runway 17, approximately at rotation speed, a "gust of wind pitched the nose up 25-30 degrees and raised the left wing." The pilot lowered the nose but the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway where it impacted the ground with the right wing, rolled over to the right, impacted the left wing and came to rest inverted. Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed no anomalies in the flight control system. The FAA inspector confirmed that the vertical stabilizer and wing spars were bent and the right wing lift strut was broken. The FAA inspector interviewed a witness that stated he saw "dust devils" in the vicinity of the airport at the time of the accident. The nearest weather observation facility is located at Davis Field near Muskogee, Oklahoma, which is 23 nautical miles southwest of Tahlequah Municipal Airport. At 0953 the facility recorded the winds at 110 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8548K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8548K), registered now, S/N 108-1548 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-1 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1) (registry code 9230404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1548 - Airframe hours: 2916 - Engines: Franklin 6A4150 B-3 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Herbert Rakestraw - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1998, 0 hours before - Departed: H73 - Destination: F81, OKEMAH, OK - Airport: H73, Tahlequah, runway 17, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,211 total, 70 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 14 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MKO, 23 nm away ## 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 19980912023799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980912023799A), Sep 12, 1998: Univar 1081, Tahlequah, OK, Substantial damage. Acft attempted to takeoff on rwy 17 with gusty cross wind. The acft veered to the right of the rwy, the right wing struck the ground. And acft flipped over.… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.