Deadwood Dam Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cascade, Idaho 83637
Sunday, July 14, 2013 7:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while landing at a remote dirt airstrip, as he turned to final approach, the runway was obscured by the glare of the morning sun. As he continued the approach to land, about 30 feet above the ground, the right wing struck trees that were next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and to the landing gear boxes. The pilot stated that had he flown a longer final he would have been able to assess the situation better. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during final approach due to the sun glare that obscured the pilot's vision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Cascade
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83637
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 441751N
Event Location Longitude 1153823W
Event Location Airport Deadwood Dam Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ID86
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 5489
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 751 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 6403
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.31
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KSNT 141351Z AUTO 00000KT 06/M01 A3031 RMK A
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) 31833
NTSB Notification Source FAA NWM 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 Sep 10 2013 5:56PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N185BW
NTSB Number WPR13CA326
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18503232
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 56
Airframe Hours 4307
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name LANGDON WILLIAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LEBANON
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97355-9744
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name LANGDON WILLIAM
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LEBANON
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 97355-9744
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 U88
Departure City Crouch
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ID86
Destination City Cascade
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 10 2013 5:57PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 04
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --