Sequim Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sequim, Washington 98382
Saturday, August 31, 2013 15:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot landed the experimental nose wheel-equipped airplane 500 feet beyond the landing threshold of the grass runway, having performed a full-flap, power-off approach. The runway was traversed by two asphalt taxiways, and during the ground roll, he observed a depression in the turf just before the first taxiway intersection. He then applied back pressure to the elevator control; however, the nose wheel dug into the depression, and the airplane nosed over. The fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The runway was normally 3,500 foot long, but at the time of the accident, the second half was closed. This was reflected in a NOTAM (notice to airmen), and the pilot was unaware of the closure. According to the airport manager, the depression was a drainage ditch, and was located to the left of runway, adjacent to the parallel asphalt runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper soft field landing technique, and failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Sequim
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98382
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480552N
Event Location Longitude 1231110W
Event Location Airport Sequim Valley Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W28
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 144
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2253 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 276
Weather Observation Facility ID KCLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 291
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KCLM 312253Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM CLR 22/12 A29
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) 32155
NTSB Notification Source FAA NWM ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 18 2013 7:26PM
User who most recently changed record sime1
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N789MH
NTSB Number WPR13CA394
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 HENDERSON MICHAEL E
Aircraft Model GLASTAR
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 5650
Certified Max Gross Weight 1960
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 3 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 482
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name HENDERSON MICHAEL E
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City EDMONDS
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98020-2516
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Craig J O'Neill
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Shoreline
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98155
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 No
Departure Airport Code KPAE
Departure City Everett
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code W28
Destination City Sequim
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 18 2013 7:27PM
User who most recently changed record sime1
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27R
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --