Stinson 108-2 N299C

Summary

On 1 June 2024 at about 06:15 local time, a Stinson 108-2 registered N299C was involved in an accident near Bethel, Alaska, 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

1 June 2024 at 06:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bethel, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Bethel (BET)

Coordinates

60.7818, -161.8352

Aircraft

Stinson 108-2

Registration

N299C

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

Wasilla → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC24LA048

Nobody was injured.

The uncertificated pilot’s decision to fly an unairworthy airplane and his failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a landing gear collapse. Contributing was the failure of the right main landing gear oleo strut.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The uncertificated pilot reported that while on a cross-country flight in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, he stopped along the way for fuel, and during that landing, he noticed that the right main landing gear felt “mushy.” However, he elected to depart and continue the flight to the destination airport. While landing on the dry, paved runway, which required a correction for strong, gusting crosswind conditions, the left main landing gear wheel touched down first, then the right main landing gear wheel touched down. The pilot said as the weight of the airplane transferred to the right main landing gear, the right oleo strut “mushed out.” The airplane subsequently ground looped to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that before leaving on the accident flight, he had observed red fluid leaking from the right landing gear oleo strut assembly, and that the airplane had not flown for most of the year. A review of maintenance records revealed the last annual inspection of the airplane was nine years prior to the accident. According to FAA records, the pilot did not possess a pilot’s certificate. Other than the leaking oleo strut, the pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.