Smiley Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stanley, Idaho 83278
Wednesday, July 10, 1996 13:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on an approach to land at a mountain airstrip, the pilot encountered crosswinds. He stated that substantial left rudder was required to counteract a crosswind during the flare. After touchdown, the aircraft went to the left. The pilot attempted to recover with right rudder, but the airplane continued to skid left on the turf runway. Since the airplane did not have toe brakes installed, the pilot was unable to use differential braking. The airplane continued to the left, hit a ditch and stopped, collapsing the landing gear and causing substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. The crosswind was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City STANLEY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83278
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SMILEY CREEK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID U87
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 7160
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 956
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1323
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:13AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5352P
NTSB Number SEA96LA151
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 24-399
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 Jul 2 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 4333
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALLAN G. FLATAU
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2243 N 1450 E
Aircraft Owner City LAYTON
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84040
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 OGD
Departure City OGDEN
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code U87
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 14
Runway Length 4900
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --