Whidbey Island Nas-Ault Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oak Harbor, Washington 98278
Wednesday, July 18, 2001 19:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident aircraft was sequenced in the pattern with a Navy P-3 (Lockheed 4-engine) aircraft that was doing touch-and-go landings. While the accident aircraft was on short final, the aircraft rolled violently to the right about 60 to 90 degrees. The pilot attempted to recover from the roll, however, during the maneuver, the right wing struck the runway surface. The aircraft touched down, collapsing the nose gear. The aircraft slid approximately 60 feet before coming to rest on the runway's edge.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate remedial action while on final approach. The encounter with wake turbulence was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/18/2001
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Oak Harbor
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98278
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Whidbey Island NAS-AULT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NUW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 47
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1903 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID NUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10776
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 18 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2032
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2001 9:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4231T
NTSB Number SEA01LA135
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7205107
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 21 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 5151
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Whidbey Island Navy Flying Club
Aircraft Owner Street Address Bldg 2563 NAS Whidbey Island
Aircraft Owner City Oak Harbor
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98278
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PWT
Departure City Bremerton
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Oak Harbor
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2001 4:55PM
User who most recently changed record RANS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --