Bellingham Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bellingham, Washington 98226
Saturday, March 23, 2013 11:10 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor reported that the pilot receiving instruction conducted a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, and the airplane began to drift left of the centerline. The pilot receiving instruction applied right rudder control inputs, and the airplane veered to the right. Despite the flight instructor's control inputs to regain control, the airplane continued to the right and subsequently ground looped. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer struck the ground, which resulted in structural damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. . The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/23/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1110
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Bellingham
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98226
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 484510N
Event Location Longitude 1222830W
Event Location Airport Bellingham Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BLI
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 170
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BLI
Elevation of weather observation facility 170
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.25
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KBLI 031853Z VRB04KT 10SM OVC043 08/02 A3025
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) 31367
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 Jul 10 2013 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7177X
NTSB Number WPR13CA165
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 150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15059227
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 May 5 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Command Aviation Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Bellingham
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98225
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Command Aviation Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Bellingham
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98225
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BLI
Departure City Bellingham
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1055
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BLI
Destination City Bellingham
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 23 2013 1:06PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 6900
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --