Private Dirt Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oakesdale, Washington 99158
Monday, August 15, 2011 7:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot took off in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and noted that the wind velocity was higher than expected, so he elected to return to the departure strip. The pilot reported that the wind produced a 12- to 15-mph tailwind for landing and that the combined effects of the tailwind and excessive airspeed caused the airplaneā€™s tail to immediately begin to rise after touchdown. After rolling about 20 feet, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot said that the accident could have been prevented if he had flown in less windy conditions and that he should have executed a go-around.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to land with a high tailwind, which resulted in a nose-over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Oakesdale
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99158
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 470817N
Event Location Longitude 1171405W
Event Location Airport Private Dirt Strip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID PUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2556
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 27
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KPUW 151353Z AUTO 26016G21KT 10SM CLR 14/06 A2999
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29520
NTSB Notification Source Spokane FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2012 2:10PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6628Q
NTSB Number WPR11LA384
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model G-164B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 154B
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 12 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 9934
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DARRELL L FENDER
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GARFIELD
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99130-9779
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Fender Air Service, Inc
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Colfax
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99111
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Oakesdale
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 710
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Oakesdale
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 18 2012 1:23PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --