N6905M

On May 6, 2000, at 1300 mountain daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, tailwheel equipped airplane, N6905M, groundlooped during an aborted takeoff at the Socorro Municipal Airport, near Socorro, New Mexico. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross-country flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane from the state of California to the state of Michigan. The previous leg of the flight was from Cottonwood, Arizona, to Socorro. After refueling at Socorro, the pilot aborted the first takeoff on runway 24 because he felt that the engine was not developing power. Subsequently, he "taxied the airplane to runway 15, leaned the engine for the density altitude conditions, and initiated the takeoff roll on the 5,800-foot runway." On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he "determined [he] wasn't going to develop adequate speed for takeoff." He aborted the second takeoff; however, he "couldn't control the aircraft to a straight stop." The airplane veered off the right side of runway 15 and groundlooped. The left wing spars and the left wing strut attachment point sustained structural damage. The propeller, engine cowling, and tailwheel spring were damaged.

The pilot reported the wind from 210 degrees at 7 knots and a temperature of 91 degrees Fahrenheit. At 1256, the surface weather observation facility at Albuquerque, New Mexico, (60 nautical miles south of Socorro) reported the wind from 280 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 21 knots, temperature at 29 degrees centigrade (84.2 degrees Fahrenheit), and an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches Mercury. The density altitude was calculated as 8,000 feet.

The FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. No mechanical discrepancies were found that would have contributed to the accident.