# NTSB SEA05LA026: Cessna 140, N3571V, Spanaway, WA, December 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 2004, 15:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Spanaway, WA - Coordinates: 47.086944, -122.431388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0869&lon=-122.4314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60685/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of distance/altitude during final approach to land which resulted in an undershoot and in flight collision with a fence. A factor was the pilot's alcohol impairment. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - fence - Nose over, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis During final approach to land, the airplane hit a barbed wire fence located about 30 feet from the threshold. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway. The rudder, vertical stabilizer, and the left wing strut were damaged. A deputy, who responded to the scene of the accident, noted an odor of alcohol coming from the pilot. With the pilot's permission, another deputy took a blood sample, which was submitted for alcohol testing. The test result was a blood alcohol content of 0.08 g/100mL. A review of the pilot's FAA medical file revealed that his application for a medical certificate dated April 18, 2003, was denied. The application was denied due, in part, to alcohol dependence. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2004, approximately 1550 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N3571V, struck a fence during landing at Spanaway Airport, Spanaway, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane, which was registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from Pierce County Airport, Puyallup, Washington, about 1530 with an intended destination of Spanaway. According to FAA inspectors who responded to the scene of the accident, during final approach to land on runway 16, the airplane hit a barbed wire fence located about 30 feet from the threshold. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway. The rudder, vertical stabilizer, and the left wing strut were damaged. A deputy with the Pierce Country Sheriff Department, who responded to the scene of the accident, noted an odor of alcohol coming from the pilot. With the pilot's permission, another deputy took a blood sample, which was submitted for alcohol testing. The test result was a blood alcohol content of 0.08 g/100mL. A review of the pilot's FAA medical file revealed that his application for a medical certificate dated April 18, 2003, was denied. The application was denied due, in part, to alcohol dependence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3571V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3571V-2008-02-13), registration cancelled 2008-02-13, S/N 14846, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14846 - Engines: Teledyne Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth H. Overbey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 2004, 18 hours before - Departed: 1S0, Puyallup, WA - Destination: S44, Spanaway, WA - Airport: S44, Spanaway, runway 16, 2,724 × 20 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.45 inHg - Observed at: KTCM, 3 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 20041206032099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041206032099A), Dec 6, 2004: Cessna 140, Spanaway, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 6, 2004, approximately 1550 pacific standard time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N3571V, struck a fence during landing at Spanaway Airport (S44),… ## Other investigations on N3571V (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI93LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA082), Feb 1, 1993: Cessna 140 (N3571V), Warren, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR. 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.