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GAA18CA028

2017-10-26 · Lewiston, Idaho, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LWS

Current FAA registration · N927D

Make / Model
STINSON 108-2
Year of manufacture
1947 · 70 years old at event
Engine
FRANKLIN 6A4165 SERIES (165 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19550823
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ACD876

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain appropriate training in the airplane before flying solo.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, this was his first solo flight in the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane decelerated and veered to the left. The pilot reported that he over corrected and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane exited the runway and the left wing struck the ground during the right ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. The METAR at the accident airport, reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the sky was clear. The National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aviation Accident Report identified in the Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation Section, that this type of accident could have been prevented if he had, "flown with a properly rated pilot (tailwheel endorsed) and practiced landings before flying… solo." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, this was his first solo flight in the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane decelerated and veered to the left. The pilot reported that he overcorrected, and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane exited the runway, and the left wing struck the ground during the right ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and aileron. The METAR at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the sky was clear. The pilot noted in the National Transportation Safety Board's Pilot Aviation Accident Report Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation section that this type of accident could have been prevented if he had "flown with a properly rated pilot (tailwheel endorsed) and practiced landings before flying…solo." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Training-Training with equipment-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA18CA028.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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