AROCK, OR, USA
N8692K
Stinson 108-1
The pilot reported that approximately one hour after departure, her four year old daughter needed to go to the bathroom. The pilot decided to land the airplane on a flat dry lake bed. She stated that there was nothing around to indicate the wind direction. After conversing with her husband, who was also a pilot, they decided to land to the west. During the landing roll, the airplane began to ground loop. The pilot tried to make corrections; however, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the surface. The pilot reported that after the accident, the wind was blowing from the east at approximately ten knots.
On July 11, 1996, at 1930 mountain daylight time, a Stinson 108-1, N8692K, operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the terrain while landing on a dry lake bed located 33 miles southwest of Arock, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and her two passengers were not injured. The flight had originated from Nampa, Idaho about one hour prior to the accident. The pilot reported that a landing was made to a dry lake bed because her four year old daughter (rear seat passenger) needed to go to the bathroom. The pilot stated that the terrain was completely flat and there was nothing around to determine the wind direction. After conversing with her husband, who is also a pilot, they decided that the wind was coming out of the west and the approach and landing was made to the west. After touch down, the airplane began to ground loop. The pilot started to make corrections, however, the left landing gear collapsed and the left wing contacted the ground. After the accident, the pilot reported that the wind direction was from 70 degrees at ten knots.
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. The tailwind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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