Stark's Twin Oaks Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hillsboro, Oregon 97123
Saturday, June 15, 1996 16:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during an approach to land, he initiated his flare over a river. He reported the aircraft 'encountered a severe downdraft' and that 'elevator back pressure failed to stop (the) rapid descent.' The accompanying flight instructor reported the pilot's approach angle 'was a little bit high' and that he observed the pilot 'slamming back on the control wheel just before touchdown.' The aircraft's right main landing gear impacted rapidly upsloping terrain just short of the runway threshold; both main gear collapsed shortly thereafter. The aircraft then skidded down the runway approximately 750 feet on the nose wheel and collapsed main gear.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to attain a proper touchdown point for landing. A factor relating to the accident was: upsloping terrain short of the threshold.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/15/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City HILLSBORO
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97123
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport STARK'S TWIN OAKS AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4S3
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 170
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1645 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 357
Weather Observation Facility ID HIO
Elevation of weather observation facility 204
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 949
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1036
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6554P
NTSB Number SEA96LA125
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1676
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 22 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2606
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HONEYCUTT, GEORGE, F.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 33130 NW BAGLEY ROAD
Aircraft Owner City HILLSBORO
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97124
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MMV
Departure City MCMINNVILLE
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 7S3
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 2
Runway Length 2465
Runway Width 25
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --