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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 12, 2012 · Stinson 108-3 · N4143C

Santa Clarita, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 12, 2012
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Santa Clarita, CA
Aircraft
Stinson 108-3
Tail Number
N4143C
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR12CA129

The airplane owner/pilot stated that he overflew the airstrip, which was oriented northeast/southwest in hilly terrain, and saw that the windsock indicated light wind from the southwest. He entered a left traffic pattern for a landing to the northeast (downwind). When the airplane was about halfway down the airstrip, it had still not touched down, and the pilot decided to abandon the landing attempt. He applied takeoff power, pitched and trimmed for a climb, established a positive rate of climb, and retracted the flaps. The airplane did not appear to be outclimbing the rising terrain, so the pilot increased the pitch attitude in an attempt to increase the climb rate. The stall warning sounded a few times, and, each time, the pilot readjusted the pitch as necessary to silence the warning. The pilot continued to fly the runway heading because he did not want to attempt any turns and thereby risk an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted terrain about 1.6 miles from and about 1,000 feet above the midpoint of the airstrip. A fire, first visible on the right side of the cowling near the battery, quickly ensued, which consumed the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical conditions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abandon the landing attempt, which resulted in the airplane colliding with rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land with a tailwind.

Full Narrative

The airplane owner/pilot stated that he took off from the southwest runway (runway 22) at his home airport and flew to an unpaved airstrip located in hilly terrain about 2 miles to the northwest. He overflew the destination airstrip, which was oriented northeast/southwest (approximately 020/200 degrees magnetic), and saw that the windsock indicated light winds from the southwest. He entered a left-hand traffic pattern for a landing to the northeast (downwind). When the airplane was approximately halfway down the airstrip, it had still not touched down, and the pilot decided to abandon the landing attempt. He applied takeoff power, pitched and trimmed for a climb, established a positive rate of climb, and retracted the flaps. The airplane did not appear to be outclimbing the rising terrain, so the pilot increased the pitch attitude in an attempt to increase the climb rate. The stall warning sounded a few times, and each time the pilot readjusted the pitch as necessary to silence the warning. The pilot continued to fly the runway heading, since he did not want to attempt any turns, and thereby risk an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted terrain about 1.6 miles from, and about 1,000 feet above, the midpoint of the airstrip. A fire, first visible on the right side of the cowling near the battery, quickly ensued, which consumed the fuselage and wings. The passenger and pilot escaped the airplane with minor injuries. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical conditions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:49 PDT
Nearest Airport2nm
Runway02
Runway Length2750 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftStinson 108-3
Tail NumberN4143C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsFranklin · 6A4165 SERIES · Reciprocating · 165
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 6 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 43 C
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time00:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data