N15JH

On August 22, 2004, at 0830 eastern daylight time, a Stinson V77, N15JH, sustained substantial damage when it veered off runway 13 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) during landing at the Livingston County Airport (OZW), Howell, Michigan. The pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed Willow Run Airport (YIP), Ypsilanti, Michigan, about 0800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed.

The reported wind at OZW was 200 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot reported that he entered and flew a normal traffic pattern for runway 13. He did a normal wheel landing on the centerline with the right wing down and opposite rudder to compensate for the right crosswind. He reported that when the tailwheel contacted the runway, the airplane immediately veered to the left. The pilot reported he applied full right rudder and right brake but the airplane veered off the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that he taxied the airplane back to the ramp.

The inspection of the airplane revealed the tailwheel was free to castor, as designed.

The pilot reported he had 12,113 total hours of flight time of which approximately 8,000 hours were in tailwheel equipped airplanes. He reported he had flown 3.3 hours in the Stinson V77.