NTSB WPR21LA289 — 2021-07-25 · Bozeman, Montana, United States

Current FAA registration · N8844K

Make / Model: STINSON 108-1
Year of manufacture: 1947 · 74 years old at event
Engine: FRANKLIN 6A4150 SERIES (150 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19560606
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AC2F9F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8844K Stinson 108-1 Minor

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he made a normal wheel landing and as he was about to lower the tailwheel, the airplane veered to the right. He attempted to correct with left rudder control, but the airplane ground looped. The pilot opined that the airplane may have been caught by a wind gust, which started an oscillation that he was not able to correct for. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_WPR21LA289.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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