Crane Island, San Juan Island Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crane Island, San Juan Is., Washington 98243
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:15 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The operator's Director of Operations reported that the flight was dispatched from their home base to pickup a waiting passenger for a flight under their 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 operating certificate. Upon arriving over the airstrip, the pilot made a traffic pattern approach and observed that the wind was calm. The pilot stated that his airspeed and approach path were approximately normal and that he was familiar with the airstrip, having landed there in a southerly direction on previous days. The airplane touched down near the beginning of the short, 1,350-foot-long grass runway. The pilot further reported that he used light to firm brake pressure and that the airplane began sliding. He stated that the south portion of the runway (near its departure end) was soggy. He attempted a rapid left turn to avoid encountering the drop-off adjacent to the runway's end. As the airplane turned left, the right wing dipped down, impacted the ground, and broke. The Cessna Aircraft Company's "Landing Distance Table" in the U206 operating handbook provides guidelines for ascertaining the approximate landing distance needed under various conditions. The performance data in the handbook indicated that on a dry grass runway, a distance of at least 897 feet is needed to stop the airplane. The table data does not provide distance information for a "soggy" wet grass runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper application of brakes.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/14/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Crane Island, San Juan Is.
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98243
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 483547N
Event Location Longitude 1225944W
Event Location Airport Crane Island, San Juan Island
Event Location Nearest Airport ID None
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 111
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1000 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID FHR
Elevation of weather observation facility 113
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.55
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) 25032
NTSB Notification Source NM ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 13 2009 3:53PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9428G
NTSB Number WPR09CA084
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model U206E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U20601628
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 21 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 9467
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name AIRCRAFT ADVENTURES LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4167 MITCHELL WAY
Aircraft Owner City BELLINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98226-9104
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name RUGBY AVIATION LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4167 MITCHELL WAY
Operator City BELLINGHAM
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98226-9104
Operator Code R01A
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number R01A597J
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FHR
Departure City Friday Harbor
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code None
Destination City Crane Island
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 13 2009 3:53PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 1350
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --