Boeing Field Int'l Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seattle, Washington 98188
Thursday, August 8, 1985 21:14 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A GROUND LOOP OCCURRED AND THE STEERING SPRING FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT'S STEERING SPRING HAD FAILED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AWAY FROM A REPAIR STATION. THE PILOT MADE A TEMPORARY REPAIR THAT FAILED DURING THIS GROUND LOOP. THE PILOT STATED THAT A COMBINATION OF A GUST OF WIND AND THE BROKEN STEERING SPRING CAUSED HIS ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2114
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SEATTLE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98188
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BOEING FIELD INT'L
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BFI
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 17
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2100 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BFI
Elevation of weather observation facility 17
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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) 1704
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29082
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7765K
NTSB Number SEA85LA192
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 20-593
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Jun 18 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2495
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID AUSMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 1361
Aircraft Owner City KODIAK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 BLI
Departure City BELLINGHAM
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 850
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BFI
Destination City SEATTLE
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 10000
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --