Yakima Air Terminal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yakima, Washington 98908
Friday, May 9, 2003 14:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had accomplished about six landings without incident prior to the final landing. During the landing roll, when the tailwheel contacted the surface, a severe vibration was felt. The aircraft immediately weathervaned to the right into the wind. Left rudder control and braking action were not effective and the aircraft subsequently ground looped. Post-accident inspection noted a loss of friction to the tailwheel anti-shimmy clutch. Both steering springs were also disconnected.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Directional control was not maintained during the landing roll. A steering spring disconnected as a result of a tailwheel shimmy was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Yakima
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98908
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 463409N
Event Location Longitude 1203200W
Event Location Airport Yakima Air Terminal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID YKM
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 1095
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID YKM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1095
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14371
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date May 9 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1445
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
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 N147DA
NTSB Number SEA03LA080
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 Allen
Aircraft Model SA-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2021
Certified Max Gross Weight 1986
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Jun 30 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 116
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Carlton L. Peterson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Yakima
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98908
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code YKM
Departure City Yakima
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code YKM
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 Jul 31 2003 6:49PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 7603
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --