Stinson 108-1 N71X

Summary

On 11 February 2003 at about 16:05 local time, a Stinson 108-1 registered N71X was involved in an accident near Sitka, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 February 2003 at 16:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Sitka, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Sitka (SIT)

Coordinates

57.0472, -135.3617

Aircraft

Stinson 108-1

Registration

N71X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sitka → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC03LA028

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop, and the collapse of the right main landing gear.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a hard-surfaced runway in calm, or nearly calm, wind conditions. The pilot said he made an intentional main gear wheel landing, and kept the tailwheel off the runway for a portion of the landing roll. When he lowered the tailwheel to the runway, he lost directional control, and the airplane swerved to the left. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the runway. The right wing and the right main landing gear gearbox received substantial damage. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot stated that the airplane was going too fast when he elected to lower the tailwheel onto the runway, and he believes the excessive speed precipitated a loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.