Auburn Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Auburn, Washington 98023
Friday, September 10, 1999 13:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he had made a three-point touchdown. Shortly after touchdown, he felt very heavy shaking or vibration from the tailwheel and the airplane veered to the left. He attempted to correct with right rudder and right brake, but was unable to bring the airplane back onto the runway. The airplane was observed to depart the left side of the runway at a low speed and impact VASI lights, damaging the right side aft fuselage and the elevator. Witnesses noted that they could hear the vibration from nearby hangars, and could see the tailwheel jerking to the right and left, after what was described as a very smooth touchdown. FAA inspectors inspected the damaged airplane and noted that the right brake cylinder was leaking, and the tailwheel casting was loose at the attachment point with the tailwheel leaf spring.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of directional control due to deficient brakes and tailwheel. Factors include leaking brake cylinder, loose tailwheel casting, and obstructions (VASI lights) in the path of the airplane as it left the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City AUBURN
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98023
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport AUBURN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S50
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 100
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID KSE
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
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 25000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1031
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 10 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3476D
NTSB Number SEA99LA158
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier 170B
Aircraft Serial Number 27019
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Oct 2 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 2072
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ERIC R. COOLEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 32238 2ND AVE SW
Aircraft Owner City FEDERAL WAY
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98023
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 1SO
Departure City PUYALLUP
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code S50
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --