# NTSB SEA04CA068: Yakovlev Yak 54, N14026, Friday Harbor, WA, April 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 10, 2004, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Friday Harbor, WA - Coordinates: 48.529167, -123.063888 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5292&lon=-123.0639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59032 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59032/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly align with the runway. Factors include rough/uneven terrain, inadequate preflight planning and diminished forward visibility. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, maneuvering - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lubricating system,oil filler cap - not secured - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - diminished, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed ## Analysis In a written statement the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice aerobatics in the local area. He reported that shortly after rolling the airplane inverted, to accomplish a "belt check", oil appeared on the airplane's windscreen and canopy. The oil on the windscreen impaired the pilot's vision and he elected to return to the departure airport and land. He stated that the airplane touched down on the left edge of the runway, encountered rough/uneven terrain and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot stated that he had not tightened the engine oil cap prior to departure. The oil cap was later found laying on the ground in the run-up area of the airstrip. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2004, at 1145 Pacific daylight time, a Yakovlev Yak-54, N14026, sustained substantial damage during landing at a private airstrip near Friday Harbor, Washington. The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot was not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local aerobatic flight. In a written statement dated April 16, 2004, the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice aerobatics in the local area. He reported that shortly after rolling the airplane inverted, to accomplish a "belt check", oil appeared on the airplane's windscreen and canopy. The oil on the windscreen impaired the pilot's vision and he elected to return to the departure airport and land. He stated that the airplane touched down on the left edge of the runway, encountered rough/uneven terrain and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot stated that he did not secure the engine oil cap prior to departure. The oil cap was later found laying on the ground in the run-up area of the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14026](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14026-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 04002, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Yakovlev Yak 54 - Registry model: [Yakovlev YAK-54](https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-yak-54) (registry code 9830223) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 04002 - Engines: Vendeneyev M14PX reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Todd L. Roberts - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Friday Harbor, WA - Destination: Friday Harbor, WA - Airport: runway 34 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,478 total, 26 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040410005949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040410005949A), Apr 10, 2004: Yaklev YAK54, San Juan Island, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot t.o. from his Private strip, climbed to 6000FT and went inverted during an acrobatic maneuver (aerobatic aircraft). Oil covered windshield and… 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.