Scappoose Industrial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Scapp00Se, Oregon 97056
Wednesday, March 9, 1994 17:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT'S TAILWHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM INADVERTENTLY UNLOCKED EITHER DURING FLIGHT OR UPON TOUCHDOWN FOR THE FULL-STOP LANDING. WITH THE TAILWHEEL FREE TO PIVOT, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED FROM OVERLOAD. THE PILOT/MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HE WOULD NOW REDESIGN THE MECHANISM SO THAT IT COULD NOT BE ACCIDENTALLY UNLOCKED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE INADVERTENT UNLOCKING OF THE TAILWHEEL LOCK. FACTORS INCLUDE THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE TAILWHEEL LOCK.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/9/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SCAPP00SE
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97056
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 SCAPPOOSE INDUSTRIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1S4
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 55
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 4500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
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) 30
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 444
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 10 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
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 N51PL
NTSB Number SEA94LA080
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 UNREIN
Aircraft Model 80-P51D
Aircraft Series Identifier 80-P51D
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jan 25 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 21
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNREIN, PAUL & LORETTA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 111716 NE 266TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City BATTLEGROUND
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98604
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KLS
Departure City KELSO
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone PST
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 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --