- Date
- August 6, 2007, 18:41 local (Aug 7, 2007, 01:41 UTC)
- Place
- Sisters, OR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7604XCessna 172B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 66401
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane collided with trees during a go-around. When the pilot was on final approach he observed a person located near the side of the runway, and he initiated a go-around. He said that during the pull-up, a wind gust "pushed" the airplane in the direction of the person. The wind's direction was variable, and its estimated speed was 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot's attempt at turning the airplane was not successful. The airplane impacted trees located near the runway.
Factual narrative
On August 6, 2007, about 1841 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172B, N7604X, collided with trees during a go-around at the Sisters Eagle Air (uncontrolled) Airport, Sisters, Oregon. The private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged during the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Tillamook, Oregon, about 1630.
The pilot reported that when he was on final approach he observed a person located near the side of the runway, and he initiated a go-around. During the pull-up, a wind gust "pushed" the airplane in the direction of the person. The pilot further reported that he attempted to turn the airplane by moving the ailerons and rudder, but the airplane would not respond. Also, the airplane's altitude was inadequate to fly over trees located near the airport, and a collision ensued.
The pilot reported that the wind's direction was variable. Its speed was 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots.
The pilot indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he concentrated his attention on flying the airplane instead directing his attention toward the bystander.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7604X
- Reported as
- Cessna 172B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17248104
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas J. Barrier, III
- Registered owner
- Thomas J. Barrier, III
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed
- TMK · Tillamook, OR
- Destination
- 6K5 · Sisters, OR
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 6K5 · Sisters, runway 02, 3,550 × 30 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 139 total · 78 in this make and model · 39 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F