Clark Co. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orchards, Washington 98662
Wednesday, June 28, 1989 18:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE LANDING RUNWAY. HE INDICATED THAT HE LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND DURING THE ENSUING GROUND LOOP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE LANDING RUNWAY ON TOUCHDOWN AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING GROUND ROLL, RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ORCHARDS
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98662
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CLARK CO.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 056
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 273
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 178
Weather Observation Facility ID NUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 1220
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39469
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8986C
NTSB Number SEA89LA123
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-20
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-20
Aircraft Serial Number 20-1052
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 23 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 3896
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CURTIS, GARY W
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7618 NE 53RD AVE
Aircraft Owner City VANCOUVER
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98661
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name METHOW AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3311 109TH ST. SW #E
Operator City EVERETT
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98205
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --