GAA18CA028

NTSB accident investigation · Stinson 108 · Lewiston, ID · October 26, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
October 26, 2017, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place
Lewiston, ID
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N927DStinson 108
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 14, 2018
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20171026020349A
Case key
96254

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain appropriate training in the airplane before flying solo.

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.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotStinson 108-2: 14 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedStinson 108-2: 13 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Training: training with equipmentPersonnel issues › Experience/knowledge · PilotStinson 108-2: 1 caseAll aircraft: 32 casesProbable cause

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 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, this was his first solo flight in the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane decelerated and veered to the left. The pilot reported that he overcorrected, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane exited the runway, and the left wing struck the ground during the right ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the sky was clear. The pilot noted in the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aviation Accident Report Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section that this type of accident could have been prevented if he had "flown with a properly rated pilot (tailwheel endorsed) and practiced landings before flying…solo." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, this was his first solo flight in the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane decelerated and veered to the left. The pilot reported that he over corrected and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane exited the runway and the left wing struck the ground during the right ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. The METAR at the accident airport, reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the sky was clear. The National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aviation Accident Report identified in the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation Section, that this type of accident could have been prevented if he had, "flown with a properly rated pilot (tailwheel endorsed) and practiced landings before flying… solo." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N927D
Reported as
Stinson 108 (2)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
108-2927
Built
1947
Airframe hours
1,585
Engine
Franklin 6A4165 SERIES, 165 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 18, 2017
Departed
KLWS · Lewiston, ID
Destination
LWS · Lewiston, ID
Airport
LWS · Lewiston-Nez Perce County, runway 30, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
Equipment
None

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
40
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 28, 2017
Seat
Front
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
763 total · 1 in this make and model · 695 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
30.29 inHg
Observed at
KLWS

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 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.