Prosser Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prosser, Washington 99320
Saturday, February 1, 2003 14:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that his descent to the airport and approach to runway 25 was normal with the exception of a minor crosswind correction for winds blowing from the north. The pilot reported that when the airplane touched down it momentarily ballooned and drifted to the left (south). He stated that he held the airplane "steady" and when the airplane touched down a second time, it touched down on the runway edge with the left wheel off the runway. The airplane turned sharply to the south and exited the runway. After exiting the runway the airplane traveled across rough uneven terrain and an adjacent taxiway, eventually coming to rest south of the intended runway. No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Improper flare while landing. Factors include rough uneven terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/1/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Prosser
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99320
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 461244N
Event Location Longitude 1194734W
Event Location Airport PROSSER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S40
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 694
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 13229
NTSB Notification Source FAA-FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Feb 4 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N75392
NTSB Number SEA03LA035
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 287625217
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 31 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 6868
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Noland Decoto Flying Service
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2810 West Washington
Aircraft Owner City Yakima
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98909
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ALW
Departure City WALLA WALLA
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code S40
Destination City PROSSER
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 Feb 28 2003 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 3440
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --