Tacoma Narrows Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tacoma, Washington 98335
Sunday, July 28, 2013 11:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the first touch-and-go landing, the touchdown was firmer than normal and the airplane bounced. The pilot recovered from the bounce and continued to land. As he lowered the nose, the nose wheel collpased and the airplane veered off to the left side of the runway. Postaccident documentation of the runway identified witness marks on the runway that indicated the nosewheel strut had impacted the runway, followed by some distance later the nose gear fully collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the gear that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper level off/flare resulted in a hard landing/bounce and subsequent nose gear collapse.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Tacoma
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98335
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471604N
Event Location Longitude 1223441W
Event Location Airport Tacoma Narrows Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTIW
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 291
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KTIW
Elevation of weather observation facility 294
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report SA 28/07/2013 18:53-> METAR KTIW 281853Z 22005
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) 31993
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 Oct 4 2013 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1205J
NTSB Number WPR13CA345
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 CO
Aircraft Model 162
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 16200064
Certified Max Gross Weight 1324
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
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 17 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 330.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DD CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TACOMA
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98407-1129
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name DD CORPORATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TACOMA
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98407-1129
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KTIW
Departure City Tacoma
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KTIW
Destination City Tacoma
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 4 2013 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5002
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --