Stinson 108-1 accident near Tea, South Dakota, September 19, 2005
On September 19, 2005 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N8495K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tea, South Dakota (Marv Skie - Lincoln County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout which resulted in the encountered ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2005 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tea, South Dakota · Marv Skie - Lincoln County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N8495K · registry record · serial 108-1495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane ground looped during the landing roll. The student pilot was flying solo at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that his first landing was "non-eventful" and that the airplane "performed well." The accident occurred on the second landing attempt. The pilot stated that during the landing rollout the airplane began "pulling very hard to the right" shortly after he "touched both brakes simultaneously... to slow the aircraft." The pilot reported that the "pull to the right was so strong that the aircraft began heading toward the side of the runway at about a 35 degree angle from [the runway] centerline." The pilot stated that he heard the "squeal of brakes" although he was "not applying brakes" while the airplane veered to the right. The pilot reported that he applied "hard left rudder" in an attempt to realign the airplane with the runway centerline. The pilot stated that the right landing main landing gear collapsed and the right wingtip impacted the ground. There were multiple tire tracks associated with the ground track of the airplane during the accident. These tire tracks were left by both the left and right main landing gear tires. The initial tire track was consistent with being left by the left main landing gear, arcing to the left. Next, there were two tire tracks marks, arcing to the right. These markings were consistent with being left by both the left and right main landing gear. The subsequent ground markings and tire track marks indicate the airplane ground looped to the left, with the right wing striking the terrain and the right main landing gear collapsing under the fuselage. No anomalies were detected with either brake system, and no discrepancies were noted during operational tests.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 83 hours in all; 22 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,291.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2005; 18.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-435-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y14 Tea SD at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Y14 Tea SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,650 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from FSD, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N8495K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.