Stinson crashes trying to avoid van on the runway

The pilot reported that he planned to fly one circuit in the traffic pattern at the airport in Stevenson, Washington, in his Stinson 108-3 and then land from the south. The landing approach was uneventful, and having reached midfield, he began to initiate the flare.

A van then crossed the runway directly in front of the airplane, so the pilot decided to perform a go-around.

Although the airplane began to slowly climb, it was not climbing at a rate sufficient to clear the approaching rising terrain, and within a few seconds it reached the end of the runway.

The pilot attempted to perform a forced landing into a clearing about 1,000 feet beyond the end of the runway. Shortly after hitting the ground, the airplane caught fire and was destroyed.

The pilot was seriously injured in the crash.

He told investigators that standard procedures called for retracting the flaps once a positive rate of climb had been established, however he did not do so because the climb performance was not sufficient.

The airport owner reported that, due to rising terrain to the north of the 2,300-foot private turf airstrip, landing approaches from the south were recommended. The airstrip was 100 feet wide and bound by trees immediately to the left and right.

Probable Cause: A runway incursion, which resulted in a go-around, and subsequent forced landing when the airplane was not able to climb at a rate sufficient to clear approaching rising terrain.

NTSB Identification: 103362

To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.

This June 2021 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.