Stinson V77 accident near Tacoma, Washington, September 11, 1999
On September 11, 1999 at about 7:01 pm local time, a Stinson V77, registered N69386, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tacoma, Washington (Tacoma Narrows 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-in-command's inadvertent use of heavier than normal braking during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 1999 · about 7:01 pm local time
- Place
- Tacoma, Washington · Tacoma Narrows · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson V77
- Registration
- N69386 · registry record · serial 77-332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command reported that as the tailwheel of his Stinson came down after touchdown on runway 35, the left wing came up and the aircraft began to diverge to the right. He used left rudder to compensate; the left wing came down and the right wing began to rise. As the airplane rapidly slowed, the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported that the rapid deceleration was due to unintentional use of the brakes' and that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft. This was confirmed by an FAA inspector. Surface winds at the airport several minutes after the accident were reported as 10 knots from 010 degrees magnetic, and gusty wind conditions were reported before and after the accident.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 734 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 649 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,674 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1999; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 680-13 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HQM Hoquiam WA at 6:10 pm
- Destination: TIW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:04 pm from TIW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.