Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gardiner, Washington 98334
Sunday, March 30, 1997 12:40 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot-in-command took off against the advice of two acquaintances who warned him of the 'strong, gusty winds.' Numerous surface weather observations throughout the northwest Washington area indicated a strong southerly flow with gusty wind conditions, and a rapid pressure rise at a number of reporting stations. Witnesses reported observing the homebuilt single-place Volkswagen-powered wooden aircraft depart from runway 10 and shortly thereafter execute a descending left turn out of view. A witness reported hearing the engine up to the time of the impact. The wooden propeller's two blades were shattered outboard of the hub. The pilot's total flight time as of his last medical conducted December 28, 1995, was reported as 60 hours.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors contributing to the accident were gusty and high winds.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1240
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City GARDINER
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98334
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 262
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 256
Weather Observation Facility ID CLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 288
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1010
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1425
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N89PR
NTSB Number SEA97LA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROSE
Aircraft Model VP-1
Aircraft Series Identifier VP-1
Aircraft Serial Number V2241
Certified Max Gross Weight 685
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERTS, DANNY, D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1704 WEST 14TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City PORT ANGELES
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98363
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 2WA1
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1239
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CLM
Destination City PORT ANGELES
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 10
Runway Length 2335
Runway Width 20
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --