Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control during landing that resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 6, 2003, approximately 1010 mountain daylight time, a Stinson 108-3, N121N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at Vernal Airport, Vernal, Utah. The private pilot and his three passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Fort Collins, Colorado, approximately 0730.
According to the pilot's accident report, he was landing on runway 34. The tail wheel touched down first and the airplane bounced on its main landing gear. The pilot "overcorrected first right, then left," and the airplane skidded "with the left wing down" and went off the left side of the runway. Postaccident examination revealed the top left wing skin was wrinkled and several ribs were damaged.
The 0953 AWOS observation at Vernal, Utah, indicated the wind was calm.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN03LA131