Event ANC03LA028

Factual narrative

On February 11, 2003, about 1205 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Stinson 108-1 airplane, N71X, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing at the Sitka Airport, Sitka, Alaska. The Title 14, CFR Part 91 local area personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The private pilot/airplane owner and the three passengers were not injured. The flight originated at the Sitka Airport about 1130. The NTSB investigator-in-charge had a telephone conversation with the accident pilot on February 12. The pilot related that he was landing on runway 11 in light wind conditions. He estimated the wind to be a direct headwind, about 5 knots or less. He said he made a wheel landing, and when he lowered the tailwheel onto the runway, he was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane subsequently swerved hard to the left, collapsing the right main landing gear, and striking the right wing on the runway. He said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and he believes he lost directional control because he was going too fast when he lowered the tailwheel onto the runway. His postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed substantial damage to right main landing gear gearbox and fuselage support structure, and about 3 feet of the right outboard wing and aileron. The pilot reported that he was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a hard-surfaced runway in calm, or nearly calm, wind conditions. The pilot said he made an intentional main gear wheel landing, and kept the tailwheel off the runway for a portion of the landing roll. When he lowered the tailwheel to the runway, he lost directional control, and the airplane swerved to the left. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the runway. The right wing and the right main landing gear gearbox received substantial damage. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot stated that the airplane was going too fast when he elected to lower the tailwheel onto the runway, and he believes the excessive speed precipitated a loss of control. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12