Felts Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spokane, Washington 99201
Thursday, September 28, 1995 16:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After completing a 14 CFR 135 pilot proficiency check, the pilot decided to perform additional landing practice. At the recommendation of the right-seat pilot, the pilot flew a tight, flaps-up pattern with a full forward slip. There was standing water on the 3,059-foot landing runway. The pilot's approach was high and at an excessive airspeed. Crossing the runway threshold, he stated 'We may be going around'; however, he then continued the approach to a 'firm' touchdown approximately halfway down the runway. The pilots stated that the aircraft hydroplaned during the landing roll and overran the end of the runway by 'approximately 40 yards' onto a grass overrun. The right elevator tip was subsequently found hanging from the elevator. Examinations of the fractured elevator tip at the NTSB Materials Laboratory and Cessna characterized the fractures as overstress separations. Photographs showed the top of the elevator spar buckled, the bottom of the spar fractured at a 45- degree angle, and upper elevator skin bent upward 90 degrees, as well as damage to both main landing gear struts.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to properly flare the airplane during the landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's improper approach to land, exceeding the proper touchdown point for landing, failure to go-around, while there was sufficient runway remaining, and the wet runway/hydroplaning condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SPOKANE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99201
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FELTS FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFF
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 1953
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1545 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SFF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1953
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2167
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1864
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 29 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1432
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5949E
NTSB Number SEA95LA228
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 182R
Aircraft Series Identifier 182R
Aircraft Serial Number 18268340
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 13 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 4624
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FELTS FIELD AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 11877
Aircraft Owner City SPOKANE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99211
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 GFVA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SFF
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1550
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
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 3R
Runway Length 3059
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --