Stinson 10-A N39482

Summary

On 8 April 2005 at about 23:00 local time, a Stinson 10-A registered N39482 was involved in an accident near Oak Harbor, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 April 2005 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Oak Harbor, Washington, United States

Coordinates

48.2594, -122.7000

Aircraft

Stinson 10-A

Registration

N39482

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oak Harbor → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05FA072

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to adequately plan the approach for landing and maintain clearance from trees during the go-around. A tailwind and trees were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A pilot and his passenger flying a Cessna 170 reported that they observed a small airplane on approach, to the east, to a small airstrip. The passenger watched the aircraft on final approach to the point where a go-around was initiated. She was not sure if the aircraft actually touched down or not. She watched it as it pulled up over the trees and continued to the east. She momentarily lost sight of the aircraft due to interference with the frame of the door of the aircraft she was in. When she tried to find the aircraft again, she spotted a plume of smoke. Witnesses near the accident site reported that the aircraft was seen traveling in an easterly direction, very low and near the tree line just before the collision with several trees. The witnesses reported that the engine was running, but seemed like it was strained or not at full power. The local area Paramedic who tended to the pilot before he was airlifted to a hospital reported that he asked the pilot if he had a medical condition, which the pilot responded that he did not. The pilot was also able to recall the day and date and further reported to the paramedic that he "overshot his landing," and that either the "winds or wing flipped him over." At the time of the accident, the winds were from the west at ten knots. During the post-accident inspection of the airframe and engine, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.