On May 5, 2007, a Stinson 108 (registration N97648) was involved in an aviation accident near Auburn, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during an aborted landing that resulted in a stall/mush. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an aborted landing, the airplane lifted off, stalled, and landed hard between the runway and taxiway, spreading the main landing gear and bending the airframe.
Event Details
The airplane collided with terrain during an aborted landing. The pilot had observed weather and airport traffic for an hour before departing on a planned 30-minute local flight. Upon returning to the airport and entering the traffic pattern, the pilot noted varying crosswind and quartering headwind conditions by observing the windsock. He then checked the automated weather observation system (AWOS), which confirmed winds at 9 knots gusting to 16 knots.
Aborted Landing Sequence
Upon touchdown, the pilot experienced a strong gust from the north and applied full power with the intention of aborting the landing. The airplane lifted off and began a climb, then stalled. It subsequently landed hard between the runway and a parallel taxiway.
Damage
The hard landing spread the main landing gear and caused bending of the airframe structure behind the cabin. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine experienced no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.