Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oak Harbor, Washington 98277
Friday, April 8, 2005 16:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A pilot and his passenger flying a Cessna 170 reported that they observed a small airplane on approach, to the east, to a small airstrip. The passenger watched the aircraft on final approach to the point where a go-around was initiated. She was not sure if the aircraft actually touched down or not. She watched it as it pulled up over the trees and continued to the east. She momentarily lost sight of the aircraft due to interference with the frame of the door of the aircraft she was in. When she tried to find the aircraft again, she spotted a plume of smoke. Witnesses near the accident site reported that the aircraft was seen traveling in an easterly direction, very low and near the tree line just before the collision with several trees. The witnesses reported that the engine was running, but seemed like it was strained or not at full power. The local area Paramedic who tended to the pilot before he was airlifted to a hospital reported that he asked the pilot if he had a medical condition, which the pilot responded that he did not. The pilot was also able to recall the day and date and further reported to the paramedic that he "overshot his landing," and that either the "winds or wing flipped him over." At the time of the accident, the winds were from the west at ten knots. During the post-accident inspection of the airframe and engine, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to adequately plan the approach for landing and maintain clearance from trees during the go-around. A tailwind and trees were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/8/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Oak Harbor
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98277
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 481534N
Event Location Longitude 1224200W
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 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 280
Airport Elevation 180
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID NUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.77
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18370
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Apr 8 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
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 N39482
NTSB Number SEA05FA072
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Stinson
Aircraft Model 10-A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 8182
Certified Max Gross Weight 1680
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 3 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 93
Airframe Hours 3128
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ted W. Mathews
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Oak Harbor
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98277
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 --
Departure City Oak Harbor
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2005 5:42PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 80
Runway Length 1000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --