Stinson 108 N97168

Summary

On 26 April 2001 at about 10:00 local time, a Stinson 108 registered N97168 was involved in an accident near White Post, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 April 2001 at 10:00

Classification

Accident

Location

White Post, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

White Post (3VA7)

Coordinates

39.0490, -78.1002

Aircraft

Stinson 108

Registration

N97168

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

White Post → Springfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

IAD01LA047

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's failure to remove frost from the airplane prior to departure. A factor in the accident was the tall wet grass.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the take-off roll on a 2,000-foot long wet grass runway, the airplane veered to the left, went through a barbed wire fence, struck a dirt mound and came to rest 150 feet beyond the mound on its nose. The pilot reported that a light frost covered the airplane prior to departure, but he did not de-ice the airplane because he was in a hurry. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that the accident was "his fault and he knew better." The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented if he had "de-iced the aircraft thoroughly." Additionally, the grass on the runway was estimated to be about 9 inches long.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.