Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fields, Oregon 97710
Friday, September 3, 2010 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was performing an off-airport landing on a dry lake bed in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During landing he flared too high and the airplane touched down hard. The airplane bounced two times and, as it began to slow, it veered to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in structural damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that he felt that his perception of his vertical position was affected by the featureless, white landing surface. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the tailwheel was separated due to a broken spring and remained attached to the fuselage by the tailwheel steering links. The pilot further stated that he felt that the damage to the tailwheel spring was a result of the hard landing and subsequent bounces. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or flight control systems prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudged landing flare, resulting in a bounced landing and loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inaccurate perception of the airplaneā€™s proximity to the ground as a result of the featureless white landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Fields
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97710
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420421N
Event Location Longitude 1183547W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 27588
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 Dec 23 2010 3:41PM
User who most recently changed record kelz
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2068Z
NTSB Number WPR10CA453
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15059868
Certified Max Gross Weight 1760
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 Aug 6 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 6000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name THOMPSON JEFFREY A
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BISHOP
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93514-7078
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name THOMPSON JEFFREY A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BISHOP
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93514-7078
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 E85
Departure City Denio
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Fields
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2010 2:19PM
User who most recently changed record cawj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --