SEA01LA119

NTSB accident investigation · Shaub EAA Biplane (P-2) · Zillah, WA · June 16, 2001

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 16, 2001, 07:45 local (14:45 UTC)
Place
Zillah, WA
Injuries
2 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N39RSShaub EAA Biplane (P-2)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 26, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20010616014369A
Case key
52511

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was a tailwind.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectLanding
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Object - airport facility

Analysis

The pilot submitted a written statement to the NTSB dated June 28, and reported that the airplane touched down, in a three-point attitude, approximately 600-700 feet beyond the landing threshold of the eastbound turf runway. He reported that the airplane's touchdown speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (MPH), and that the runway surface was damp. He stated that shortly after touchdown, the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, however, the airplane continued to drift to the right. The airplane continued off the runway in to a parking area and collided with a temporary air traffic control tower and an unoccupied aircraft (Cessna 175). According to the Seattle Sectional Aeronautical Chart, 61st edition, the runway is 2,000 feet in length. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from the west at 10 MPH.

Factual narrative

On June 16, 2001, about 0745 Pacific daylight time, a Shaub EAA Biplane (P-2), N39RS, sustained substantial damage after colliding with a parked aircraft while landing at a private airstrip near Zillah, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, and a bystander sustained minor injuries. The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight.

The pilot submitted a written statement to the NTSB dated June 28, and reported that the airplane touched down, in a three-point attitude, approximately 600-700 feet beyond the landing threshold of the eastbound turf runway. He reported that the airplane's touchdown speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (MPH), and that the runway surface was damp. He stated that shortly after touchdown, the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, however, the airplane continued to drift to the right. The airplane continued off the runway into a parking area and collided with a temporary air traffic control tower and an unoccupied aircraft (Cessna 175).

According to the Seattle Sectional Aeronautical Chart, 61st edition, the runway is 2,000 feet in length.

The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from the west at 10 MPH.

The biplane sustained substantial damage to the upper and lower wings.

Aircraft

Registration
N39RS
Reported as
Shaub EAA Biplane (P-2)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
RLS-001
Airframe hours
611
Engine
Continental O-290-D2, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert L. Shaub
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
S98 · Kennewick, WA
Destination
Zillah, WA
Airport
68WA · Mc Mahon Field, runway E, 2,000 × 40 ft, grass/turf

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
71
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
May 9, 2000
Seat
Single
Flight hours
588 total · 188 in this make and model · 508 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 10 knots
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.