Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eltopia, Washington 99330
Sunday, March 14, 2004 15:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the airplane developed a rough running engine while in a cruise flight configuration. After unsuccessful attempts to correct the situation or determine the cause of the rough running engine, the pilot made a precautionary landing to a nearby open field. After landing in the field, the pilot checked the airplane's systems stating "...I ran the engine rpm up and down searching for any kind of noticeable miss or any other tell-tale sign that there may be a problem." After checking various systems, the pilot attempted a takeoff from the field. He stated that during the takeoff roll, "...the airplane rose into ground effect, but then drifted down out of it, coming back down to the earth." The pilot stated that he aborted the takeoff, however, during the rollout the airplane encountered rising terrain and become airborne. He stated that when the airplane touched down the second time, it encountered rough uneven terrain and nosed down. The nose gear collapsed during the accident sequence.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Remedial action delayed during the takeoff roll. Factors include rough/uneven terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Eltopia
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99330
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 462642N
Event Location Longitude 1190642W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KPSC
Elevation of weather observation facility 407
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
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) 15605
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1551
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2004 1:28PM
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 N1883V
NTSB Number SEA04LA049
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 17263780
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Jan 15 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours 6030.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KENNEWICK AIRCRAFT SERVICES INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6951 Grandridge Blvd.
Aircraft Owner City Richland
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99352
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 K3WA
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 S98
Departure City KENNEWICK
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1440
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SFF
Destination City SPOKANE
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 5 2004 3:32PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --