Auburn Academy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Auburn, Washington 98092
Saturday, August 17, 2002 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was practicing touch and go landings on an east/west turf runway in the unregistered Sorrell Aircraft Co. HiperLight SNS-8 biplane. During the takeoff roll, and about 25 miles per hour, the aircraft ground looped to the right departing the runway and coming to rest in high brush. The pilot reported that the wind changed while taking off to a left crosswind.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff roll resulting in a ground loop. A contributing factor was crosswind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Auburn
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98092
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471650N
Event Location Longitude 1220858W
Event Location Airport Auburn Academy
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WA84
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 416
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1056 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID SEA
Elevation of weather observation facility 429
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13637
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 17 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2133
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2003 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Renton FAA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number None
NTSB Number SEA02LA170
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HiperLight
Aircraft Model SNS-8
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 46
Certified Max Gross Weight 550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
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 Kirk, Donald J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Enumclaw
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98022
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Enumclaw
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 2 2003 5:22PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2650
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --