Tacoma Narrows Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gig Harbor, Washington 98335
Sunday, July 5, 2009 14:37 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the landing roll on runway 17 in the tail-wheel equipped airplane, the pilot encountered a gust of wind from the right. The airplane began to weather vane to the right and veered off the runway despite the pilot's control inputs, substantially damaging the airplane's left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident. The weather observation station located at the airport reported shortly after the accident winds from 220 degrees at 10 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and failure to maintain directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/5/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1437
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Gig Harbor
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98335
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471604N
Event Location Longitude 1223441W
Event Location Airport Tacoma Narrows Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTIW
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 294
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TIW
Elevation of weather observation facility 294
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
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) 25897
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 Aug 19 2009 2:18PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1431C
NTSB Number WPR09CA328
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model A75N1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 75-1702
Certified Max Gross Weight 2717
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 20 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3077
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Mark Moore
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City COSTA MESA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92627-3839
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Mark Moore
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City COSTA MESA
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92627-3839
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 FHR
Departure City Friday Harbor
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TIW
Destination City Gig Harbor
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 19 2009 2:18PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5002
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --