# NTSB SEA04LA053: Cessna 172E, N3950S, Raymond, WA, March 21, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2004, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Raymond, WA - Coordinates: 46.683334, -123.825836 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6833&lon=-123.8258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58934 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58934/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA053 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - incorrect, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3950S), registered now, S/N 17251150 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172E - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251150 - Airframe hours: 4679 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040321004409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040321004409A), Mar 21, 2004: Cessna 172E, S Bend/Raymond, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) During the last landing after a day of flying a recently purchased aircraft, the pilot lost control during after-landing-rollout and veered into the soft… 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.