# NTSB NYC01LA093: Stinson 108-3, N980C, Falmouth, MA, April 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 2001, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Falmouth, MA - Coordinates: 41.55978, -70.619911 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5598&lon=-70.6199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52023 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52023/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA093 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Factors were the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis When the pilot departed the airport, the wind was favoring runway 25. About 90 minutes later, the pilot returned to the airport. Before landing, he monitored the automated terminal information service (ATIS) of another airport, located on an island about 13 miles south. According to the pilot, that ATIS information indicated a direct crosswind for runway 25. The pilot aborted his first landing attempt because he was too fast. During the second landing attempt, the airplane touched down, but a gust of wind pushed the empennage to the left. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a tree. The pilot added that before landing, the windsock near the trees appeared "limp," but he did not recall the position of the windsock on top of a hangar. However, after the accident, the pilot observed the windsock on top of the hanger, and the winds were favoring runway 07. Additionally, the ATIS information at an airport located about 13 miles to the east, indicated a quartering tailwind of 13 to 19 knots. The pilot stated that in retrospect he should have landing on runway 07. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 2001, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N980C, was substantially damaged while landing at Falmouth Airpark (5B6), Falmouth, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Katama Airpark (1B2), Edgartown, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that earlier in the day, he departed 5B6 and flew to 1B2. During the initial departure from 5B6, the wind favored runway 25, which was 2,300 feet long and 40 feet wide. The pilot further stated that there were two windsocks at 5B6; one on a hangar, and one surrounded by trees at the approach end to runway 25. The pilot stayed at 1B2 for approximately 90 minutes, and returned to 5B6. During the return flight, the pilot monitored the Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, automated terminal information service (ATIS), and the reported wind was from 340 degrees. During his first attempt to land on runway 25, the pilot felt that he was "too fast, like he had a tailwind." He performed a go-around, and observed that the windsock near the trees was "limp." He did not recall observing the second windsock located on top of a hangar. During the second attempt, the pilot landed on landed on runway 25. However, the wind pushed the empennage to the left, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The right wing struck a tree, and the airplane came to rest. After the accident, the pilot observed that the windsock on the hangar was favoring runway 07, at 5-7 knots. The pilot added that in retrospect, he should have landed on runway 07. The reported wind at an airport about 13 miles to the east of 5B6, at 1256, was from 030 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots. MVY was located on an island, about 13 miles south of 5B6. The reported wind at MVY at 1235, was from 360 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N980C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N980C), registered now, S/N 108-3980, 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: 3980 - Airframe hours: 2092 - Engines: Franklin 6A4-165B3 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter Volz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: 1B2, Edgartown, MA - Destination: 5B6, Falmouth, MA - Airport: 5B6, Falmouth Airpark, runway 25, 2,300 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 27, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 1,021 total, 194 in this make and model, 1,021 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 13 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: HYA, 13 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 20010405006189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010405006189A), Apr 5, 2001: Univar 1083, Falmouth, MA, No damage. (-23) Wind shift resulted in a downwind landing with a crosswind. Pilot lost control and veered off the runway impacting trees with the right wing. ## Other investigations on N980C (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI69F0026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0026), Jun 15, 1968: Stinson 108-3 (N980C), Flushing, MI, substantial damage 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.