Crane Island (Private) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crane Island, Washington 98286
Monday, August 5, 1996 9:25 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Before landing at the 1,800 foot long grass strip on Crane Island, the pilot flew over the strip to check its condition and to determine the wind direction. After the over-flight, he believed the wind was calm, so he elected to make his approach over water to the southeast. During roll-out on the wet/grass airstrip, the pilot was unable to stop before coming to the end. The aircraft then went over an embankment/drop-off at the end of the strip at an estimated speed of 10 to 12 mph. After the accident, the pilot determined that there had been an 8 to 10 knot tailwind, but the wind sock had not accurately reflected such a wind.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to correctly judge the surface winds in the vicinity of the runway. Factors relating to the accident were: a tailwind during landing, a short runway with a wet surface, and an embankment/drop-off at the end of the airstrip.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 925
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CRANE ISLAND
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98286
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CRANE ISLAND (PRIVATE)
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 30
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
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) 1376
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8313Q
NTSB Number SEA96LA177
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model U206F
Aircraft Series Identifier U206F
Aircraft Serial Number U20603174
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 31 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 8601
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WEST ISLE AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4000 AIRPORT ROAD, SUITE A'
Aircraft Owner City ANACORTES
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WEST ISLE AIR
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 HUFA
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FRH
Departure City FRIDAY HARBOR
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 13
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --