Auburn Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Auburn, Washington 98002
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 13:40 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he made a normal approach and landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left, exited the runway, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left and right wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder sustained structural damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems or brake systems at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/23/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Auburn
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98002
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471939N
Event Location Longitude 1221335W
Event Location Airport Auburn Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S50
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 63
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 335
Weather Observation Facility ID SEA
Elevation of weather observation facility 433
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.44
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) 26537
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 Jan 14 2010 5:41PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N17119
NTSB Number WPR10CA096
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 STINSON
Aircraft Model SR-8B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 9819
Certified Max Gross Weight 3750
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 22 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 4980
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name CULVER DONALD E
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SEATTLE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98127-1904
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CULVER DONALD E
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SEATTLE
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98127-1904
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 --
Departure City Tacoma
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code S50
Destination City Auburn
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 14 2010 5:41PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --