# NTSB NYC01LA181: Stinson 108-1, N8212K, Latrobe, PA, July 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2001, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Latrobe, PA - Coordinates: 40.310787, -79.37944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3108&lon=-79.3794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52785 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52785/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA181 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in the inadvertent ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis During the tailwheel-equipped airplane's landing rollout, the pilot felt a gust of wind come from the right and to the rear. The right wing was lifted off the ground, and the pilot attempted to compensate by applying right aileron and left brake. The airplane continued to ground-loop to the right, pivoting on the left main landing gear until it collapsed. Winds were from the right, at less than 6 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2001, at 1740 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108-1, N8212K, was substantially damaged when it ground-looped during a landing at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (LBE), Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, between Mount Pleasant-Scottsdale Airport (P45), Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and Latrobe. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the landing on runway 05 was "pretty normal." However, during the rollout, he had trouble maintaining directional control and the airplane started to ground-loop to the right. The pilot applied the left brake, but with insufficient force to straighten out the airplane. The airplane skidded, the left wheel collapsed, and the left wing was damaged. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot also reported to him that upon touchdown, he felt a gust of wind come from the right rear of his airplane, which lifted the right wing. He attempted to compensate by applying right aileron and left brake; however, his efforts were too late and the airplane ground looped to the right. As the airplane turned to the right, it was on its left main landing gear only. The left main landing gear then collapsed, and the left wing and propeller contacted the runway. The airplane had undergone a 3-year renovation, completed approximately 15 flight hours prior to the accident. The pilot had five recent dual instructional flights, and received his biennial flight review sign-off on June 24, 2001. The FAA inspector reported the winds at the time of the accident as being light and variable, from the southeast at less than 6 knots. The pilot reported the winds as being from 140 degrees, at 4 to 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8212K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8212K), registered now, S/N 108-1212 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson 108-1 - Registry model: [Stinson 108-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-108-1) (registry code 9230404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A4150 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a4150-series) (registry code 27024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 108-1212 - Airframe hours: 300 - Engines: Franklin 64A-165-B3 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Reintgen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2001, 15 hours before - Departed: P45, Mount Pleasant, PA - Destination: LBE - Airport: LBE, Arnold Palmer Regional, runway 05, 7,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 10, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: PIT, 35 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 20010720038929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010720038929A), Jul 20, 2001: Univar 1081, Latrobe, PA, No damage. (-23) The following narrative was developed through an on scene investigation, pilot and witness interviews, by personnel of the allegheny flight standards… ## Other investigations on N8212K (2) 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 NYC76DGM18](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC76DGM18), Dec 6, 1975: Stinson 108 (N8212K), Listonburg, PA, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC69D0131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69D0131), Aug 11, 1968: Stinson 108-1 (N8212K), Central City, PA, 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.