Stinson 108 N9726K

Summary

On 12 August 2020 at about 14:00 local time, a Stinson 108 registered N9726K was involved in an accident near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, United States. 2 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

12 August 2020 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Glenwood Springs, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Glenwood Springs Muni (GWS)

Coordinates

39.5083, -107.3106

Aircraft

Stinson 108

Registration

N9726K

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

Eagle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA345

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of directional control upon landing due to a sheared tailwheel locking pin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, upon touchdown, the tailwheel equipped airplane immediately “lurched” right. He said that he tried to correct, and the airplane initially veered left; however, it ultimately veered right followed by a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that neither occupant was actuating the brakes at the time of the landing. A post-accident examination revealed that the tailwheel locking pin was sheared, which allowed the tailwheel to rotate freely more than 90°. When the pin is not engaged, the fork would have the ability to rotate and pivot independently of the steering arm and rudder input, a condition known as free-castoring.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.