# NTSB SEA02LA178: Stinson 108-3, N9641, Anacortes, WA, September 23, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 2002, 16:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place: Anacortes, WA
- Coordinates: 48.483333, -122.650001
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4833&lon=-122.6500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55749
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55749/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA178

## Probable cause

Normal braking application was excessive during the landing roll resulting in the aircraft nosing over.

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he tapped the brakes before the tail wheel contacted the runway surface and the airplane nosed down.  The propeller struck the runway surface and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted on the runway.  The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On September 23, 2002, about 1625 Pacific daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N9641, registered to a private individual and operated by Micro Aerodynamics, as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, nosed over during the landing roll at the Anacortes airport, Anacortes, Washington.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the Airline Transport Pilot and the pilot rated passenger were not injured.

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he was landing the aircraft on runway 36.  The pilot stated that he believed that he tapped the brakes before the tail wheel had contacted the runway surface and the airplane nosed down.  The propeller struck the runway surface and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted on the runway.  The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9641](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9641-2006-02-17), registration cancelled 2006-02-17, S/N 108-5193, built 1948 (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: [Continental O-470R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470r) (registry code 17071, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 108-5193
- Airframe hours: 3609
- Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Micro Aerodynamics
- Registered owner: James M. Huber
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2002, 39 hours before
- Departed: 74S, Anacortes, WA
- Airport: 74S, Anacortes, runway 36, 3,015 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 26, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 2 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: NUW, 9 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 20020923025489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020923025489A), Sep 23, 2002: Univar 1083, Anacortes, WA, Destroyed. (-23) During landing pilot applied brakes causing nose of aircraft to tip toward ground. The propeller struck the ground as the aircraft rolled onto its back.…

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.

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