Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waterville, Washington 98858
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 17:10 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The sport pilot flight instructor reported that while maneuvering during a local instructional flight, he noticed dust forming in a circular pattern in the air near their position. The student pilot, who was flying the airplane, initiated a climbing 180-degree turn towards their point of departure. While approaching a ridge line about 800 feet above ground level, the instructor noted the turbulence was increasing, and when the airplane started to descend, he took the controls. The instructor stated that despite using full throttle, the airplane continued to descend rapidly while "getting forced down by a microburst," prompting him to initiate a forced landing in an open field. The instructor added that due to the low altitude, he was unable to align the airplane with the rows of dirt. During the approach to landing, the airplane "caught some lift" and subsequently entered a "strong down draft" and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane by the instructor revealed that both wings and fuselage framing were structurally damaged. The instructor stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine or flight control system that would have prevented normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was a microburst condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Waterville
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98858
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 474800N
Event Location Longitude 1194800W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1100 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID S10
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24217
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2008 6:40PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1762C
NTSB Number SEA08CA172
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 Lyons
Aircraft Model Navajo HKS
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 74178
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert Lyons
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chelan
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Winkenwader
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Waterville
Operator State KS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 66548
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code S10
Departure City Chelan
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 --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2008 6:03PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --