Arlington Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arlington, Washington 98223
Monday, July 7, 2008 18:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 34, the airplane was buffeted by a gust of wind and it yawed to the left. He applied full opposite rudder control; however, the airplane veered off the runway. After the airplane exited the runway, the right main landing gear leg collapsed and the airplane came to rest adjacent to the runway. The student pilot stated that the winds at the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 11 knots. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll in gusty conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/7/2008
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Arlington
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98223
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480938N
Event Location Longitude 1220932W
Event Location Airport Arlington
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAWO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 137
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1830 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID KAWO
Elevation of weather observation facility 137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 25313
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 6 2009 1:43PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle, WA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N918LA
NTSB Number SEA08LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Evektor-Aerotechnik
Aircraft Model SportStar
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 918
Certified Max Gross Weight 1268
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 195
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name Marsha Thue
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Seattle
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98117
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Northwest Aviation Center
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Everett
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98204
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 KAWO
Departure City Arlington
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KAWO
Destination City Arlington
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 6 2009 1:43PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 5332
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --