- Date
- March 21, 2004, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Raymond, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3950SCessna 172E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040321004409A
- Case key
- 58934
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 directional control during the landing roll resulting in the aircraft nosing over. Incorrect remedial action and soft terrain were factors.
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 pilot reported that he had just purchased the accident aircraft and that the majority of his flight time was in an Ercoupe. During the landing roll, the aircraft drifted slightly to the right side of runway centerline. Being accustomed to the Ercoupe that has its brake positioned on the right rudder pedal, he mistakenly applied more right rudder/brake pressure than the left side, and the aircraft veered to the right and traveled off the runway surface onto soft wet grassy terrain. As the aircraft slowed, the nose wheel dug in and the aircraft nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
Factual narrative
On March 21, 2004, approximately 1415 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172E, N3950S, registered to and operated by a private pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during the landing roll at Willapa Harbor Airport, Raymond, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from McMinnville, Oregon, about 1300.
During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he had just purchased this aircraft. The majority of his flight time was in an Ercoupe. During the landing roll, the aircraft drifted slightly to the right side of runway centerline. Being accustomed to the Ercoupe that has its brake positioned on the right rudder pedal, he mistakenly applied more right rudder/brake pressure than the left side, and the aircraft veered to the right and traveled off the runway surface onto soft wet grassy terrain. As the aircraft slowed, the nose wheel dug in and the aircraft nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3950S
- Reported as
- Cessna 172E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17251150
- Airframe hours
- 4,679
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Russell A. Wiitala
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 12, 2004 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- MMV · McMinnville, OR
- Destination
- Raymond, WA
- Airport
- 2S9 · Willapa Harbor, runway 29, 3,000 × 52 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- August 4, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 609 total · 8 in this make and model · 581 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- HQM, 17 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.