Southfork Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grangeville, Idaho 83530
Sunday, May 26, 1996 8:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he attempted to land on a grass airstrip that was about 1,000 feet long. He stated that the airplane touched down about mid-field, and he was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with a tree at the end of the airstrip. The left landing gear support structure was torn from the airplane, and the fuselage was damaged. The pilot stated that his approach was 'too high and hot' and he did not realize that the grass on the airstrip was wet, causing a decrease in the airplane's braking effectiveness. No preimpact mechanical malfunction was reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to properly judge the distance and speed of the airplane during the final approach, his failure to obtain a proper touchdown point for landing, and his failure to perform a go-around, while there was sufficient runway remaining. A factor relating to the accident was: the short/wet/grassy runway condition, which led to ineffective braking.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/26/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City GRANGEVILLE
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83530
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOUTHFORK AIRSTRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 743 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID S80
Elevation of weather observation facility 3310
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 30000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 941
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 26 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N626RP
NTSB Number SEA96LA099
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 180
Aircraft Series Identifier 180
Aircraft Serial Number 18031659
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 May 22 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 4423
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DALLY, CHARLES E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2051 BELLE CARTER ROAD
Aircraft Owner City WASHOUGAL
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98671
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code S80
Departure City
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 730
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 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 1000
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --