Stinson 108 accident near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, August 12, 2020
On August 12, 2020 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1947 Stinson 108, registered N9726K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Glenwood Springs, Colorado (Glenwood Springs Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control upon landing due to a sheared tailwheel locking pin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2020 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Glenwood Springs, Colorado · Glenwood Springs Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108 2, built 1947 · all 108s on the register
- Registration
- N9726K · registry record · serial 108-2726
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, upon touchdown, the tailwheel equipped airplane immediately “lurched” right. He said that he tried to correct, and the airplane initially veered left; however, it ultimately veered right followed by a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that neither occupant was actuating the brakes at the time of the landing. A post-accident examination revealed that the tailwheel locking pin was sheared, which allowed the tailwheel to rotate freely more than 90°. When the pin is not engaged, the fork would have the ability to rotate and pivot independently of the steering arm and rudder input, a condition known as free-castoring.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear steering system › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 18,800 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,500 hours in all; 1,160 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 6,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 10, 2019
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,326 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,231 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R-25A (piston); 759 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEGE Eagle CO at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,305 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 26°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.55 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 am from K5SM, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Examination Email | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Tailwheel Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.