Stinson 108 3 N818C

Summary

On 19 October 2016 at about 18:44 local time, a Stinson 108 3 registered N818C was involved in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 October 2016 at 18:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Boulder City, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Boulder City Muni (BVU)

Coordinates

35.9467, -114.8608

Aircraft

Stinson 108 3

Registration

N818C

Category

Airplane

Year built

1948

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Banner Tow

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boulder City → Boulder City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA033

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to ensure that the aerial pickup towline was not entangled around the horizontal stabilizer after the banner pickup.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator-in-Charge, the pilot stated that, during the initial climb after an aerial pickup of a banner, the towline became entangled with the right horizontal stabilizer and the right elevator. Subsequently the airplane pitched down, impacted the ground, and nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After multiple requests, the pilot did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.