# NTSB SEA01LA013: Cessna 172N, N734UW, Spangle, WA, November 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 2000, 19:00 local (Nov 3, 2000, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Spangle, WA - Coordinates: 47.439525, -117.350044 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4395&lon=-117.3500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50583 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50583/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequately executed remedial action and his failure to ensure that the aircraft touched down at the proper location. Factors include a dark night, an unlighted runway, and trees off the approach end of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway edge lights - not available on selected runway (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a night approach to an unlighted field, the pilot came in high in order to avoid the trees off the approach end of the runway. After crossing the runway threshold and pulling the power to idle, the pilot realized that he was too high. He therefore elected to slip the aircraft in order to lose altitude. During the slip, the aircraft drifted beyond the side boundary of the runway and touched down in an adjacent plowed field. Although the touchdown was uneventful, soon thereafter the nose gear sank into the soft dirt and the aircraft nosed over. According to the pilot, he did not realize he had allowed the aircraft to drift over the plowed field until after the nose gear started to sink into the terrain. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 2000, approximately 1900 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N734UW, nosed over during the landing roll in a plowed field adjacent to the turf runway at Spangle Field, Spangle, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by Felts Field Aviation, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Felts Field, Spokane, Washington, about 25 minutes earlier, was being operated in night visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT did not activate. According to the pilot, who was attempting to land at the unlighted field on a dark night, after turning on his landing light and making two low passes over the field, he decided to land. Because there were trees off the approach end of the runway, he came in high with full flaps and then cut the power to idle over the end of the runway. Seeing that he was too high and realizing that he needed to initiate remedial action, he slipped the aircraft to the left in order to lose altitude. During the slip sequence, the aircraft drifted beyond the side boundary of the runway and touched down in an adjacent plowed field. Although the touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll, the nose gear dug into the soft terrain and the aircraft nosed over. According to the pilot, he did not realize he had drifted beyond the runway edge until the aircraft encountered the soft terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N734UW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N734UW), registered now, S/N 17269134 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269134 - Airframe hours: 4747 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Felts Field Aviation - Registered owner: Felts Field Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 2000, 30 hours before - Departed: SFF, SPOKANE, WA - Destination: 03WA - Airport: Spangle Field, runway 18, 2,800 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 295 total, 170 in this make and model, 266 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001102019129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001102019129A), Nov 2, 2000: Cessna 172N, Spangle, WA, No damage. (-23)Airman ateempted a landing at a private unlighted grass strip after dark. Vehicle lights were positioned to illuminate the approach threshold. Landing… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.