On July 26, 2005, a Stinson 108 (registration N97492) operated by Joseph J. Swindell was involved in an aviation accident near Hesperia, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing rollout, the pilot lost directional control after the right main tire deflated, causing the conventional-gear airplane to veer off and nose over. The pilot had about 8.3 hours in type.
Accident Narrative
The accident occurred during the landing rollout when the airplane veered off the runway and nosed over. The pilot had performed a slipping maneuver while approaching the airport. During the landing rollout, the right main landing gear tire became flat, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, causing the conventional-gear aircraft to swerve sideways. The wind at the time was reported as light and variable.
Pilot Experience
The pilot's total flying experience in the specific model of airplane was approximately 8.3 hours at the time of the mishap.
Tire Examination
No physical evidence of a preexisting tire failure was found. The tire deflation occurred during the landing rollout.
Findings
The loss of directional control during the landing rollout resulted in the airplane departing the runway surface and nosing over.