Wilson Bar Usfs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dixie, Idaho 83677
Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and his passenger had been traveling across the country visiting backcountry airstrips. They had spent two nights at a backcountry airstrip and decided to go on a day flight to one of the other airstrips in the area that was 1,500 feet in length by 50 feet wide. After surveying the landing area, the pilot stated that, as he neared the approach end of the runway, he was approximately 20 feet above ground level when the airplane dropped straight down. The pilot indicated that his airspeed was slow and that he most likely encountered a downdraft. This resulted in the airplane landing hard on the runway surface, and the airplane porpoised prior to impacting rising terrain and trees. There were no mechanical malfunctions reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Dixie
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83677
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 452348N
Event Location Longitude 1152900W
Event Location Airport Wilson Bar USFS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ID76
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2250
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID MYL
Elevation of weather observation facility 5024
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
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) 25692
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW Com Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 8 2009 4:42PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N725V
NTSB Number WPR09CA311
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 MAULE
Aircraft Model M-5-235C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7480C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 4
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 Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James G Kusian
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Curtice
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43412-9620
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James G Kusian
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Curtice
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 43412-9620
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 No
Departure Airport Code MYL
Departure City McCall
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ID76
Destination City Dixie
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 8 2009 4:45PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 1500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --