According to the pilot, he was completing a local sightseeing flight in his Stinson 108 with friends near Lawrenceville, Ga. The weather was “clear and calm.” He was cleared for a three-mile straight in approach to Runway 7.
Following a normal, stabilized approach, a “small bounce” occurred after the initial touchdown. The airplane deviated to the right and he corrected back to the left.
The airplane then ground looped and came to rest upright in the grass, adjacent to the runway.
An inspector from the FAA examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the right wing.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, resulting in a ground loop, runway excursion, and structural damage to the right wing.
NTSB Identification: ERA13CA422
This August 2013 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.
I have owned and flown a number of hours in all the 108 series Stinsons. Some were better maintained than others. I found that with a load (passengers) your better to fly a slightly nose heavy approach and wheel land the craft. At touch down just relax the aft control wheel pressure. It will roll onto the mains very firmly. Those aircraft do not care to do full stall landings unless you have full flaps because of the flap/control column limiter stop. Remember; “Full stall and Full flaps.”
I hope no one got hurt.