Ephrata Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ephrata, Washington 98823
Saturday, May 12, 2012 10:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/owner of the experimental amateur-built aerobatic airplane was participating in an aerobatics practice and coaching event. On the morning of the event, he departed the airport, conducted aerobatics practice, and returned for a landing. During touchdown, the airplane bounced. Witness accounts of the severity of the touchdown and bounce varied. The airplane subsequently struck a runway sign off the left side of the runway during the rollout, and incurred substantial damage. After the accident, the pilot reported that the brakes had failed. In a followup statement, he reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft and added that a possible explanation of brake failure might have been as a result of the bounced landing. The accident was not reported to any aviation authorities until nearly a month after it occurred. Due to the late report, the airplane could not be examined to determine the integrity or functionality of the brake system or other possible reasons for the loss of control after landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Ephrata
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98823
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471829N
Event Location Longitude 1193101W
Event Location Airport Ephrata
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EPH
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 1276
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID EPH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1276
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
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) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.3
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) 33419
NTSB Notification Source Owner/Operator
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 9 2014 6:34PM
User who most recently changed record huhm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N336JS
NTSB Number WPR12LA252
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name STAUDACHER HYDROPLANES
Aircraft Model S300X
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 35
Certified Max Gross Weight 1700
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 23 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 174
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ashish Kapoor
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Kirkland
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98033
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Ashish Kapoor
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Kirkland
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98033
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code EPH
Departure City Ephrata
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code EPH
Destination City Ephrata
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 9 2014 6:34PM
User who most recently changed record huhm
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 03
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --