Astoria Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Astoria, Oregon 97103
Sunday, April 29, 2007 12:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll in a 30 degree crosswind of about 12 knots, the aircraft passed on the leeward side of a number of hangars of varying size. As the aircraft passed through the area where the wind was blocked by the individual hangars into areas where the wind was not blocked, the student pilot failed to adequately compensate for the resultant change in wind velocity and direction. As the student pilot continued the takeoff, the aircraft departed the side of the runway, impacted a taxiway exit sign, and entered into an area of wet, soft ground. The student pilot then pulled the power to idle and applied "full brakes." The nose gear then dug into the terrain and ultimately collapsed. There were no anomalies found in the rudder or nose wheel steering systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to adequately correct for changing wind conditions, leading to a loss of directional control during the takeoff ground roll. Factors include wet, soft terrain along the side of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/29/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Astoria
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97103
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400929N
Event Location Longitude 1235243W
Event Location Airport Astoria Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAST
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1245 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KAST
Elevation of weather observation facility 15
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
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) 30.2
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 Docket Number (internal use) 21725
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1911V
NTSB Number SEA07CA116
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17263791
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Byron D. Edmonds
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Gorge Winds Aviation, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Troutdale
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
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 KAST
Departure City Astoria
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KKLS
Destination City Kelso
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2007 5:28PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 4990
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --