Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rockford, Washington 99030
Monday, April 8, 2002 9:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the takeoff from a private airstrip, everything was normal until the aircraft lifted off and the aircraft was not climbing as normal. The aircraft flew another 100 yards and then settled to the ground. The propeller contacted the ground, the engine separated from the firewall and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident. After the accident, witnesses indicated that there was a gust of wind that occurred at the end of the takeoff run.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning/decision to continue the takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/8/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Rockford
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99030
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 472750N
Event Location Longitude 1170800W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 2400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12883
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 8 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2003 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane, WA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N81705
NTSB Number SEA02LA065
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WSK PZL Mielec
Aircraft Model M-18A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1Z020-17
Certified Max Gross Weight 10500
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name A-1 Aviation Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address 31716 S Dunn Rd
Aircraft Owner City Fairfield
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99012
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 WZSG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Rockford
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2002 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --