# NTSB WPR12CA129: Stinson 108-3, N4143C, Santa Clarita, CA, March 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2012, 18:49 local (Mar 12, 2012, 01:49 UTC) - Place: Santa Clarita, CA - Coordinates: 34.548053, -118.335281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5481&lon=-118.3353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83089/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83089 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to abandon the landing attempt, which resulted in the airplane colliding with rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land with a tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Stinson 108-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=9230408), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane owner/pilot stated that he overflew the airstrip, which was oriented northeast/southwest in hilly terrain, and saw that the windsock indicated light wind from the southwest. He entered a left traffic pattern for a landing to the northeast (downwind). When the airplane was about halfway down the airstrip, it had still not touched down, and the pilot decided to abandon the landing attempt. He applied takeoff power, pitched and trimmed for a climb, established a positive rate of climb, and retracted the flaps. The airplane did not appear to be outclimbing the rising terrain, so the pilot increased the pitch attitude in an attempt to increase the climb rate. The stall warning sounded a few times, and, each time, the pilot readjusted the pitch as necessary to silence the warning. The pilot continued to fly the runway heading because he did not want to attempt any turns and thereby risk an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted terrain about 1.6 miles from and about 1,000 feet above the midpoint of the airstrip. A fire, first visible on the right side of the cowling near the battery, quickly ensued, which consumed the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical conditions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The airplane owner/pilot stated that he took off from the southwest runway (runway 22) at his home airport and flew to an unpaved airstrip located in hilly terrain about 2 miles to the northwest. He overflew the destination airstrip, which was oriented northeast/southwest (approximately 020/200 degrees magnetic), and saw that the windsock indicated light winds from the southwest. He entered a left-hand traffic pattern for a landing to the northeast (downwind). When the airplane was approximately halfway down the airstrip, it had still not touched down, and the pilot decided to abandon the landing attempt. He applied takeoff power, pitched and trimmed for a climb, established a positive rate of climb, and retracted the flaps. The airplane did not appear to be outclimbing the rising terrain, so the pilot increased the pitch attitude in an attempt to increase the climb rate. The stall warning sounded a few times, and each time the pilot readjusted the pitch as necessary to silence the warning. The pilot continued to fly the runway heading, since he did not want to attempt any turns, and thereby risk an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted terrain about 1.6 miles from, and about 1,000 feet above, the midpoint of the airstrip. A fire, first visible on the right side of the cowling near the battery, quickly ensued, which consumed the fuselage and wings. The passenger and pilot escaped the airplane with minor injuries. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical conditions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4143C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4143C-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 108-5143, built 1950 (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: 108-5143 - Airframe hours: 922 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6A4165 SERIES 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2011, 922 hours before - Departed: I70, Agua Dulce, CA - Destination: Santa Clarita, CA - Airport: runway 02, 2,750 × 30 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 433 total, 120 in this make and model, 433 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: WHP, 16 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 20120311003169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120311003169A), Mar 11, 2012: Stinson 108-3, Agua Dulce, CA, Destroyed. On 03/11/2012[privacy data omitted]. The pilot of N4143C a Stinson 108-3, decided to make an off airport landing on a dirt strip 2 miles northwest of Agua… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83089. 830 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 417 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365581&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365675&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Record of Second Conversation with Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Second%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Additional Information (item 4, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20Information-Redacted.PDF - METARs (item 5, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.PDF 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.