Thomas Creek Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stanley, Idaho 83278
Sunday, March 6, 1994 12:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE ON SHORT FINAL TO THE 2,100 FOOT LONG AIRSTRIP, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DOWNDRAFT AS IT PASSED OVER A RIVER. THE INCREASED RATE OF DESCENT, WHICH BEGAN WHILE IN THE DOWNDRAFT, CONTINUED TO THE POINT OF TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN EXPERIENCED A VERY HARD THREE-POINT LANDING, AT WHICH TIME THE NOSE GEAR FORK SHEARED FROM THE STRUT. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR, AND TOUCHED DOWN A SECOND TIME, LANDING ON THE MAIN GEAR. WHEN THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE GEAR TO THE RUNWAY, THE NOSE GEAR STRUT DUG INTO THE SOFT EARTH, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE. FACTORS INCLUDE DOWNDRAFTS ON FINAL APPROACH.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/6/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City STANLEY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83278
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport THOMAS CREEK AIRSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2U8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 439
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 8 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:52AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6995E
NTSB Number SEA94LA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 175A
Aircraft Series Identifier 175A
Aircraft Serial Number 56495
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HALVERSON, MICHAEL T.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 846
Aircraft Owner City HAILEY
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80003
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SUN
Departure City HAILEY
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 110
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --