# Accident 20130516008869A: Swanson Vern L TIGER MOTH 80, Lynden, WA, May 16, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2013, 20:20 local time
- Place: Lynden, WA
- Airport: Lynden
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.9558° N, 122.4581° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9558&lon=-122.4581&mi=10
- Aircraft: N928VS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N928VS-2018-08-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Swanson Vern L TIGER MOTH 80 (registry code 0562401, https://openairdocs.org/model/swanson-vern-l-tiger-moth-80) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34801, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWANSON VERN L TIGER MOTH 80
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 281 total, 185 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA235) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130516008869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO HIS HOME FIELD SHORTLY AFTER 8 PM AND ELECTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 25 DUE TO A REPORTED 6 KNOT WIND FROM THE WEST. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH HIS VISIBILITY WAS SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE SETTING SUN AND HE LOST SIGHT OF A LINE OF CEDAR TREES HE NEEDED TO CLEAR ON SHORT FINAL.  HE DESCENDED TOO LOW AND HIS RIGHT WING STRUCK ONE OF THE TREES LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 700' FROM THE RUNWAY. HIS MOMENTUM CARRIED HIM FORWARD ANOTHER 100' WHILE THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND APPROXIMATELY. 180 DEGREES AND NOSED INTO THE GROUND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND BOTH WINGS. THE PILOT WAS FLYING FROM THE REAR OF TWO SEATS AND WAS UNINJURED EXCEPT FOR A CUT ON HIS RIGHT FOREARM. THE FRONT SEAT AREA WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR13CA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA235), May 17, 2013: Swanson Tiger Moth 80 (N928VS), Lynden, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during final approach and his obscured vision due to the sun glare.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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