Bandon State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bandon, Oregon 97411
Monday, October 27, 2003 18:50 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while on final approach in dark night conditions, he noted that three of the four precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light units were red with the fourth pink, fading to white, when the aircraft suddenly collided with trees about 1/2 mile from the end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently collided with the ground and came to rest inverted. The Airport/Facility Directory for the airport indicate trees as obstructions and identifies a threshold cross height requirement to clear the obstructions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from objects while on final approach. Dark night conditions, trees and a low glidepath were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/27/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1850
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Bandon
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97411
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 430400N
Event Location Longitude 1242400W
Event Location Airport Bandon State
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S05
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 119
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1835 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID OTH
Elevation of weather observation facility 17
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.27
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) 15040
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 27 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2015
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 Hillsboro, Oregon

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80628
NTSB Number SEA04LA013
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 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17266677
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
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 Oct 2 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 5209
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James F. King
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Bandon
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97411
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code S05
Departure City Bandon
Departure State RI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
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 Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2003 4:36PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 3600
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --