# NTSB GAA18CA042: Stinson SR 5E, N141WC, Burlington, WA, November 11, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 11, 2017, 07:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Burlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.466667, -122.418052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4667&lon=-122.4181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 21, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96321 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96321/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96321 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA042 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstabilized approach, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and nose-over. Also causal to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to land on a closed alternate grass landing area. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious, float-equipped airplane reported that, 2 days before a repositioning flight, he inspected the destination airport. He had planned to land on an alternate grass landing area, adjacent to an asphalt runway, and stop before reaching a gravel driveway. He further reported that he noticed in the airport facility directory (AFD) that the intended landing area was closed due to soft, wet conditions. The pilot reported that, during landing, he was "high and fast." He further reported that he landed "too far along to stop before the gravel drive." The airplane reached the gravel driveway, bounced, and then landed hard, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The AFD for the accident airport, in part, stated: "[Alternate Grass Landing Area (AGLA)]: AGLA clsd 1 Nov-1 June. Gnd soft when wet. [Daylight] hrs only. Use of AGLA prohibited when Rwy 04-22 in use….Pilots use at own risk." ## Factual narrative The pilot of the amphibious, float-equipped airplane reported that, two days before a repositioning flight, he inspected the destination airport. He had planned to land on an alternate grass landing area, adjacent to an asphalt runway, and stop prior to a gravel driveway. He further reported that he noticed in the airport facility directory that the intended landing area was closed due to soft, wet conditions. The pilot reported that, during landing, he was "high and fast". He further reported that he landed "too far along to stop before the gravel drive". The airplane encountered the gravel driveway, bounced, and landed hard, resulting in a nose over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport facility directory for the accident airport, in part stated: "[Alternate Grass Landing Area (AGLA)]: AGLA clsd 1 Nov-1 June. Gnd soft when wet. [Daylight] hrs only. Use of AGLA prohibited when Rwy 04-22 in use." It further stated: "Pilots use at own risk." ## Aircraft - Registration: N141WC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: STINSON SR 5E (UNDESIGNAT) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 9256A - Year built: 1934 - Airframe hours: 1313 - Engines: Lycoming R680-13 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2017 - Departed: 0W7, BELLINGHAM, WA - Destination: BVS, Burlington, WA - Airport: BVS, Skagit Rgnl, runway 22, 3,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 9, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,864 total, 340 in this make and model, 5,369 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KBVS ## 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 20171111018679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171111018679A), Nov 11, 2017: Stinson SR-5E, Burlington, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was repositioning the float equipped airplane to skagit county airport for winter storage. While landing in the grass area adjacent… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96321. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - KBVS Airport Facility Directory (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=KBVS%20Airport%20Facility%20Directory-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.