Pearson Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Vancouver, Washington 98660
Sunday, December 15, 1996 11:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during a landing attempt with crosswinds gusting to 16 knots, he descended steeply from above the proper glide path, and that over the end of the runway the winds 'stopped gusting.' He stated that his touchdown was 'kind of hard', misaligned, and with excessive speed. He initiated a go-around, remained in the pattern, and performed a second, uneventful landing. The airplane did not initially appear damaged to him, but a subsequent airframe inspection by a mechanic revealed substantial structural damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's touchdown with an excessive rate of descent. Factors included gusty crossiwnds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/15/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City VANCOUVER
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98660
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PEARSON FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 60S
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 25
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1804
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 31 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1443
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N42694
NTSB Number SEA97LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182M
Aircraft Series Identifier 182M
Aircraft Serial Number 18259142
Certified Max Gross Weight 2759
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 Dec 6 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 5200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANIEL E. DAVIDSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13015 N.E. 8TH PL.
Aircraft Owner City VANCOUVER
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98684
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RALZA B. HAMILTON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2529 N.E. 132ND
Operator City PORTLAND
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97230
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 60S
Departure City
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1S4
Destination City SCAPPOOSE
Destination State OR
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 8
Runway Length 3275
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --