Bergseth Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Enumclaw, Washington 98022
Sunday, June 20, 2004 17:48 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident aircraft departed the airport under power approximately 3 hours prior to the accident. Shortly after returning to the traffic pattern for landing, witnesses observed the aircraft enter a downwind for landing to the east. A witness reported that the pilot's downwind leg appeared normal, however, the base leg to final turn was close to the runway end resulting in a higher than normal glide path to final. Shortly after crossing the landing threshold, the glider pitched up, in conjunction with the speed brakes retracting, and the pilot initiated a turn to the right (south). The pilot rolled to a wings level attitude momentarily before entering a turn to the left. As the aircraft turned to the left, it pitched to a nose-low attitude and impacted terrain. The accident flight was the pilot's first solo landing approach to the accident airport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Aircraft control not maintained while maneuvering for landing. A proper glidepath was not maintained was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1748
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Enumclaw
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98022
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471405N
Event Location Longitude 1215504W
Event Location Airport BERGSETH FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WN76
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.025
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 1100
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1756 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 308
Weather Observation Facility ID KSEA
Elevation of weather observation facility 433
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 342
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) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) 3165
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17486
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1821
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2005 6:20AM
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 N410JP
NTSB Number SEA04FA111
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 TeST
Aircraft Model TST-10 M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 10010503
Certified Max Gross Weight 661
Aircraft Category Glider
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Joseph D Patton III
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Seattle
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98118
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 WN76
Departure City Enumclaw
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code WN76
Destination City Enumclaw
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
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 10
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --