Lynden Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lynden, Washington 98262
Thursday, October 2, 2008 18:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the tailwheel equipped airplane suddenly veered to the right during the landing roll. Despite his control inputs, the airplane continued to veer to the right, exited the runway, and impacted a hangar located adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and both wings were structurally damaged. The tailwheel spring retaining clip was found separated from the tailwheel assembly. No anomalies were noted with the flight control system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The separation of the tailwheel spring retaining clip for unknown reasons, which resulted in the loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/2008
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lynden
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98262
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 485721N
Event Location Longitude 1222729W
Event Location Airport Lynden Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 38W
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 106
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1845 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID BLI
Elevation of weather observation facility 170
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.74
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24565
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 5 2008 1:53PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2146M
NTSB Number WPR09CA002
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20931
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Scott Peterson
Aircraft Owner Street Address Rt 1 Box 85
Aircraft Owner City Pawnee Rock
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67567
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John William Vanderhage
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lynden
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98264
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 38W
Departure City Lynden
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1758
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 38W
Destination City Lynden
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2008 7:02PM
User who most recently changed record ricj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 2425
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --