This March 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Stinson 108-3. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Lebanon, Ore. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane completed a number of touch-and-go landings, and then made a full-stop landing so that he could taxi to the parking area to talk with some friends. When he took off again a few minutes later to do one final landing before putting the airplane away, he discovered that the wind speed had picked up and that he would be landing in a gusting crosswind.
During the landing roll, which was along the leeward side of a row of hangars with occasional spaces between them, the airplane started turning toward the left side of the runway and into the wind. When the pilot found that full right brake and full right rudder was not enough to bring the airplane back to the right, he added a significant amount of engine power in an attempt to regain control.
Although the airplane’s ground track began to straighten after he added power, the pilot kept the right-wheel brake fully applied, resulting in the airplane attaining a nose-down attitude. The propeller began hitting the runway surface. With the propeller hitting the runway surface, the pilot found it necessary to reduce power. The airplane veered left and went off the runway. The left wheel went off the runway and into soft ground. The right brake was still fully applied, and the airplane nosed over onto its back.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to release his brake after adding power to regain directional control during the landing roll.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: WPR10CA179
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