# NTSB SEA99LA163: Stinson V77, N69386, Tacoma, WA, September 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 1999, 12:01 local (19:01 UTC) - Place: Tacoma, WA - Coordinates: 47.289585, -122.61911 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2896&lon=-122.6191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47392/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA163 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's inadvertent use of heavier than normal braking during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - brakes(normal) - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot-in-command reported that as the tailwheel of his Stinson came down after touchdown on runway 35, the left wing came up and the aircraft began to diverge to the right. He used left rudder to compensate; the left wing came down and the right wing began to rise. As the airplane rapidly slowed, the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported that the rapid deceleration was due to unintentional use of the brakes' and that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft. This was confirmed by an FAA inspector. Surface winds at the airport several minutes after the accident were reported as 10 knots from 010 degrees magnetic, and gusty wind conditions were reported before and after the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 1999, at 1201 Pacific daylight time, a Stinson V77, N69386, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the aircraft nosed over on landing at the Tacoma Narrows airport, Tacoma, Washington. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Hoqiuam, Washington, approximately 1115 on the morning of the accident. The pilot reported in a written statement (NTSB Form 6120.1/2 attached) that the "approach was stabilized, normal and controlled. [The] main wheels touched down approximately 300 ft from the end of [the] runway [runway 35]. [The] rudders were actively used to maintain airplane direction. As the tail came down, the left wing came up, veering the airplane to the right. Left rudder was used to compensate. As the left wing came down the right wing started to rise and right rudder was used to compensate. As the airplane rapidly slowed, the tail went up and the propeller and nose cowling contacted the ground causing the plane to flip over on its back." Additionally, the pilot stated that "rapid deacceleration [sic] was due to unintentional use of the brakes" and that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration's Renton Flight Standards District office examined the aircraft and found no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft's brake system. The surface aviation weather observation taken at the Tacoma Narrows airport at 1204 Pacific daylight time, reported winds of 10 knots from 010 degrees magnetic. Approximately one hour previous, the winds were reported as 9 knots, gusting to 15 from 020 degrees magnetic. These same winds existed approximately one hour after the accident but with no reported gusts. Gusty wind conditions were reported several hours after the accident (refer to ATTACHMENT W-I). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69386](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N69386), registered now, S/N 77-332 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stinson V77 - Registry model: [Stinson VULTEE V-77](https://openairdocs.org/model/stinson-vultee-v-77) (registry code 8631802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680e-series) (registry code 41545, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 77-332 - Airframe hours: 1674 - Engines: Lycoming 680-13 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kimble, Wallis, R. - Registered owner: Kimble Aviation, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1999, 13 hours before - Departed: HQM, HOQUIAM, WA - Destination: TIW - Airport: TIW, Tacoma Narrows, runway 35, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 734 total, 8 in this make and model, 649 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TIW ## 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 19990911043939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990911043939A), Sep 11, 1999: Stnson V77, Tacoma, WA, No damage. (-23) Normal approach and touchdown to rwy 35 at tiw. Wind was 11 KTS direct headwind. After touchdown pilot applied brakes too hard and a/c flipped over. 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.