Bowers Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ellensburg, Washington 98926
Tuesady, January 28, 2003 14:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that during the approach to runway 29, he was lined up with the runway centerline, 60 knots airspeed and he had red-over-white on the VASI. Touch down was made just after the numbers. After touchdown, the airplane started to veer to the right. The student pilot applied left rudder input, however, the airplane continued to veer/turn to the right. The right main landing gear lifted off the ground and the airplane traveled off the runway and collided with a snow bank. The aircraft subsequently nosed over. The winds at the time were reported from 090 degrees at five knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Aircraft control was not maintained during the landing roll. A tailwind and a snow bank were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/28/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Ellensburg
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98926
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 470100N
Event Location Longitude 1203100W
Event Location Airport Bowers Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ELN
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 1763
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ELN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1763
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
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) 13531
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jan 28 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1454
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2003 9:51AM
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 N48769
NTSB Number SEA03LA031
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15283372
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 24 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 46
Airframe Hours 10836
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Midstate Aviation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1101 Bowers Road
Aircraft Owner City Ellensburg
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98926
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code ELN
Departure City Ellensburg
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1320
Departure Time Zone PST
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 - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 10 2003 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 4300
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --