Sanderson Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Shelton, Washington 98584
Thursday, May 13, 2004 16:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was practicing wheel landings in preparation for a check ride. He stated the touchdown was normal, however, shortly after landing (runway 05) the airplane swerved to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the situation using a combination of power and rudder inputs, but was unable to regain control of the airplane before it exited the runway (on to a paved surface adjacent to the runway). Shortly after exiting the runway, the airplane "snapped" to the right. Post-accident examination of the right main landing gear and hydrasorb assembly installed on the airplane, revealed that one of the ears on the lower fitting assembly (used to support the shock cord) fractured and separated from the main strut assembly. Further examination of the assembly revealed that the lower strut fitting had been welded to the strut assembly. The assembly consists of a lower strut fitting, an upper strut fitting and the hydrasorb unit. The lower strut fitting rests on the end of the hydrasorb and is held in place via the shock cord. The 1656 Shelton METAR observation reported weather conditions, in part, as: wind from 260 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 statute miles and clear skies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions during landing. Factors include a crosswind, fracture/collapse of the landing gear hydrasorb and an improper weld on the landing gear assembly.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Shelton
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98584
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471401N
Event Location Longitude 1230851W
Event Location Airport SANDERSON FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SHN
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 273
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KSHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 273
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
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) 18855
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date May 18 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1011
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2005 6:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1829P
NTSB Number SEA04LA086
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-22-20
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-2609
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dennis J. Carlson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lacey
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98513
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SHN
Departure City SHELTON
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SHN
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 5005
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --