Stinson SR 5A accident near Manassas, Virginia, October 29, 2013
On October 29, 2013, a 1934 Stinson SR 5A, registered N14163, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Manassas, Virginia (Manassas Regional Airport). It was a personal 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 inadvertent application of only one brake during landing roll, resulting in a ground loop and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2013
- Place
- Manassas, Virginia · Manassas Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson SR 5A UNDESIGNAT, built 1934 · all SR 5As on the register
- Registration
- N14163 · registry record · serial 9276-A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the of the vintage tailwheel airplane reported that the touchdown was normal; however, after rolling out about 1,500 feet, his left heel was not fully centered in the rudder shoe and accidentally depressed the left brake. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway and rotated 180 degrees on concrete, before coming to rest. The rotation on concrete resulted in separation of the right main landing gear. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the lower right fuselage, where the right main landing gear attached.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 31,000 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 25,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 16, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2013; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-E3B (piston); 29 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFD Mansfield OH at 9:00 pm
- Destination: HEF Manassas VA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34R, 6,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from HEF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.