# NTSB GAA17CA033: Stinson 108 3, N818C, Boulder City, NV, October 19, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 19, 2016, 11:44 local (18:44 UTC) - Place: Boulder City, NV - Coordinates: 35.946666, -114.860832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9467&lon=-114.8608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94251/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94251 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA033 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure that the aerial pickup towline was not entangled around the horizontal stabilizer after the banner pickup. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-Charge, the pilot stated that, during the initial climb after an aerial pickup of a banner, the towline became entangled with the right horizontal stabilizer and the right elevator. Subsequently the airplane pitched down, impacted the ground, and nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After multiple requests, the pilot did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Factual narrative In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-Charge (IIC), the pilot stated that during the initial climb after an aerial pickup of a banner, the towline cable became entangled with the right horizontal stabilizer and the right elevator. Subsequently the airplane pitched down, impacted the ground, and nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and the empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After multiple requests, the pilot did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N818C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818C-2021-04-05), registration cancelled 2021-04-05, S/N 108-3818, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STINSON 108 3 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-E4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-e4b5) (registry code 42342, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-3818 - Year built: 1948 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: BVU, Boulder City, NV - Destination: BVU, Boulder City, NV - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: BVU, Boulder City Muni - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KBVU ## 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 20161019020979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161019020979A), Oct 19, 2016: Stinson 108-3, Boulder City, NV, Substantial damage. On 10/19/2016, at approximately 1145 hours, a single engine Stinson airplane impacted desert terrain during a forced landing near the Boulder City Airport in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94251. 794 KB in all. - Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF 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.