Cavanaugh Bay Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coolin, Idaho 83821
Saturday, September 18, 1999 18:40 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot overflew the airstrip and observed that the windsocks appeared to be indicating calm winds at the surface. But, according to the pilot, during the touchdown, the aircraft was hit by a strong crosswind gust. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the aircraft departed the runway and impacted trees growing along the edge of the airstrip. After the accident, the pilot exited the aircraft and observed that there were strong, variable, gusty winds blowing. He also noticed that the strong winds were intermittently replaced by periods of calm. The investigation revealed no evidence of control system malfunction or anomaly.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. Factors include variable, gusty crosswinds, and trees along the sides of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City COOLIN
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83821
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 CAVANAUGH BAY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 66S
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 2484
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
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) 1039
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 22 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 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 N2841E
NTSB Number SEA99LA170
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 Champion
Aircraft Model 7BCM
Aircraft Series Identifier 7BCM
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-6424
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 27 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2578
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRUCE C. SALERNO
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 19194
Aircraft Owner City SPOKANE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99219
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 S86
Departure City SAND POINT
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1810
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 66S
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 3100
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --