Stuart Island Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stuart Island, Washington 98250
Wednesday, July 9, 2003 20:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot intended to land on runway 09, but changed her mind and elected to land on runway 27 due to a helicopter being on an apron in close proximity to the approach end of runway 09. On a one mile final to runway 27 she could see the runway with no problem, but as she approached the threshold she encountered a sun glare condition which obstructed her vision. The aircraft to veered slightly left and impacted a 15 foot high, 6 inch diameter tree, spinning it 180 degrees to the left before coming to rest in an upright, nose low, tail high attitude.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance while maneuvering to land. Contributing factors included the tree and the sunglare condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/9/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Stuart Island
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98250
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 484026N
Event Location Longitude 1231032W
Event Location Airport Stuart Island Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7WA5
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 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID FHR
Elevation of weather observation facility 113
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 --
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) 1189
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14502
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 9 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
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 Seattle, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N125ER
NTSB Number SEA03LA131
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7916200
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 25 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Judy A. Lord
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Shoreline
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98177
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 PAE
Departure City Everett
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1920
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 7WA5
Destination City Stuart Island
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2003 12:32PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 55
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --