# NTSB LAX02LA006: Stinson 108-3, N735C, Rosamond, CA, October 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2001, 11:03 local (18:03 UTC) - Place: Rosamond, CA - Coordinates: 34.733333, -118.216667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7333&lon=-118.2167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53618 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53618/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain sufficient airspeed during the attempted takeoff, which resulted in a stall/mush. The airplane's failure to accelerate was due to a disintegrated bearing on the camshaft. The pilot's failure to make a timely abort decision was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - roll/run - engine assembly,camshaft - disintegrated (cause) - engine assembly,bearing - disintegrated (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - abort - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - attempted, pilot in command - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The airplane collided with terrain and nosed over during an attempted takeoff. The pilot reported that the airplane did not develop sufficient airspeed during the takeoff roll. At the decision point, the pilot noticed a berm that was 2-feet high at the end of the runway. He felt that he did not have enough room to stop so he proceeded at full power and "jerked" the airplane into the air. The airplane started to sink, and he applied full aft elevator. The airplane stalled about 2 feet above the ground, touched down again, and the right main gear struck a bush and sheared off. The airplane came to rest inverted and was consumed by post impact fire. A witness who purchased the engine from the pilot reported that the camshaft had a disintegrated bearing. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 2001, at 1103 Pacific daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N735C, collided with terrain during an attempted takeoff from the Ancient Valley Airstrip near Rosamond, California. The owner was operating the airplane on a personal cross-country flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, and one passenger was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that the airplane did not develop sufficient airspeed during the takeoff roll. At the decision point, the pilot noticed a berm that was 2-feet high at the end of the runway. He felt that he did not have enough room to stop so he proceeded at full power and "jerked" the airplane into the air. The airplane started to sink, he closed the throttle, and applied full aft elevator. The airplane stalled about 2 feet above the ground and rolled about 20 feet. The right main gear struck a bush and sheared off. The airplane came to rest inverted and was consumed by post impact fire. A witness stated in a telephone interview that the pilot had recently purchased the airplane. The witness observed the takeoff. He stated that when the airplane was about halfway down the runway, the tail was on the ground. At almost full airstrip length, one of the main gear went through dirt, the nose hit the ground, and the right main gear broke on ground impact. The pilot told the witness that the airplane "didn't seem to make as much power as he thought it should." The witness further stated that he purchased the engine from the accident airplane, and the camshaft was found to have a disintegrated bearing when it was disassembled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N735C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N735C), registered now, S/N 108-3735, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-3 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-3) (registry code 9230408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4165 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4165-series) (registry code 27025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1083-735 - Engines: Franklin 6A4165 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Martin B. Petri - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2001, 40 hours before - Departed: ROSAMOND, CA - Destination: O26, LONE PINE, CA - Airport: PVT, Ancient Valley ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 30 in this make and model, 570 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: WJF, 8 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 20011014029449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011014029449A), Oct 14, 2001: Univar 1083, Rosamond, CA, No damage. (.19) On October 14, 2001, at 1103 hours pacific daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N735C, nosed over during an aborted takeoff from the ancient valley airstrip… 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.