Bergseth Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Enumclaw, Washington 98022
Sunday, April 27, 2003 16:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The glider pilot departed under tow from runway 28 at the turf/dirt airstrip under winds reported as calm to 5 knots from the west. After encountering turbulence the pilot re-entered the pattern and set up for an approach and landing on runway 10. The aviation surface weather observations for a number of sites located north and west of the airstrip reported generally northwesterly winds ranging from 8 to 11 knots at the surface. The pilot rolled onto final in a 5 degree right angling approach which he attempted to correct with the application of left rudder and aileron just before touchdown. The glider did not respond and subsequently touched down with the nose angled about 10-15 degrees right of the centerline. The glider then rolled off the south side of the runway impacting trees. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the event.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were the crosswind/tailwind conditions and the trees which the glider impacted.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Enumclaw
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98022
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471438N
Event Location Longitude 1215553W
Event Location Airport Bergseth Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WN76
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 1100
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 287
Weather Observation Facility ID SEA
Elevation of weather observation facility 429
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
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) 15017
NTSB Notification Source SEA FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 27 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1837
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Renton FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N159AS
NTSB Number SEA03LA073
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 Pilatus
Aircraft Model B4-PC11AF
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 262
Certified Max Gross Weight 770
Aircraft Category Glider
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 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2094
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Perrin, Stefan H.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tacoma
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98422
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Kent
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98031
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code WN76
Departure City Enumclaw
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1615
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 - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 26 2003 12:06PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --