20120407004699A

ON APRIL 7, 2012 AT 1400 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A LUSCOMBE 8E, N1183K, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HOLDER OF PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 FLIGHT, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ON RUNWAY 12 AT THE WESTPORT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, (14S). THE PILOT IN COMMAND AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED AND EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT. DAY, VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE LUSCOMBE 8E ORIGINATED FROM THE PIERCE COUNTY AIRPORT, THUN FIELD (PLU), PUYALLUP, WA AT ABOUT 1300 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, ON APRIL 07, 2012. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS DESCRIBED AS A PLEASURE FLIGHT THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS MAKING WITH HIS SON, THE ONLY OTHER OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT. DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR-IN-CHARGE, THE PILOT IN COMMAND REPORTED THAT HE HAD MADE THREE APPROACHES TO RUNWAY 12, THE FIRST TWO APPROACHES RESULTED IN A GO AROUND DUE TO BEING "TOO HIGH". ON THE THIRD AND FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT IN COMMAND STATED HE TOUCHED DOWN IN A THREE POINT ATTITUDE AND BOUNCED SLIGHTLY. THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, AND CAME TO A REST INVERTED AT MIDFIELD, APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET LEFT OF THE RUNWAY 12 PAVEMENT EDGE. WHILE COMMUNICATING WITH THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS COMMAND CENTER REGARDING THIS ACCIDENT, THE WESTPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT LIEUTENANT SUMMONED THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO THE TELEPHONE, HE WAS INTERVIEWED AT THIS TIME BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INTERVIEW, INVESTIGATOR POLLACK RELEASED THE AIRPLANE TO THE PILOT IN COMMAND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RIGHTED AND SECURED IN A TIE DOWN AT THE WESTPORT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. AN AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM THE SEATTLE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE DID INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT.