Stinson 108 N9277K

Summary

On 20 February 2017 at about 15:40 local time, a Stinson 108 registered N9277K was involved in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, United States. One person was 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

20 February 2017 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Porter County Rgnl (VPZ)

Coordinates

41.4547, -87.0072

Aircraft

Stinson 108

Registration

N9277K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1947

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Private → Valparaiso

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA153

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, as the tail came down, a "sizable gust weathervaned" the airplane to the left. He added that, he "made aggressive inputs to correct the direction" but was unsuccessful. He further added that, once the airplane veered off the runway and into the grass, he could feel the mains begin to sink into the soft ground. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift struts and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 16 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 170° at 9 knots. The airplane landed on runway 18.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.