Mahlon Sweet Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eugene, Oregon 97402
Saturday, March 9, 1996 15:21 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot, with a total of 14 hours of flight experience, was executing his first solo landing to runway 21 in calm wind conditions. He reported that the aircraft 'turned sharply to the right' during the landing roll and he was unable to regain directional control. The aircraft subsequently departed the runway during which the nose landing gear collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. Wheel skid marks of 283 feet were measured on the runway, and no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft's brakes was found. The student pilot's instructor, who witnessed the accident, postulated that the student inadvertently actuated the brakes during the landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's inadvertent activation of the brakes and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/9/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1521
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City EUGENE
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97402
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MAHLON SWEET FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EUG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 365
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1522 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID EUG
Elevation of weather observation facility 365
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 926
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1643
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8920S
NTSB Number SEA96LA066
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 150F
Aircraft Series Identifier 150F
Aircraft Serial Number 15062220
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 2 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 1556
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AERIAL COMMUNICATIONS OF AMERI
Aircraft Owner Street Address 28829 LOCKHEED DRIVE, SUITE 4
Aircraft Owner City EUGENE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97402
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code EUG
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1518
Departure Time Zone PST
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 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 5221
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --