- Date
- June 17, 2008, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Point Roberts, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2413MCessna T182T
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080617838979A
- Case key
- 68250
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 clearance from trees during a go-around. Contributing to the accident were the pilot inadvertently allowing the airplane to porpoise during the landing flare, and the presence of a tailwind.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While attempting a landing, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airplane to porpoise during the landing flare. He therefore initiated a go-around, but did not clear some trees about one-quarter mile off the departure end of the runway. After impacting the trees, he was able to maintain airplane control, and subsequently executed a second approach and a full-stop landing. After the landing, the pilot realized that his first approach had been made with a tailwind of about 20 knots.
Factual narrative
While attempting a landing in visual meteorological conditions, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airplane to porpoise during the landing flare. He therefore initiated a go-around, but did not clear some trees about one-quarter mile off the departure end of the runway. After impacting the trees, he was able to maintain airplane control, and subsequently executed a second approach and a full-stop landing. After the landing, the pilot realized that his first approach had been made with a tailwind of about 20 knots. The impact with the tress resulted in numerous dents in the leading edge of the wings, and a tear in the skin of the horizontal stabilizer.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2413M
- Reported as
- Cessna T182T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- T18208758
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-Ak1A, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- David A. Smith
- Registered owner
- Gemini Sonoma LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KEUG · Eugene, OR
- Destination
- 1RL · Point Roberts, WA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- 1RL · Point Roberts, runway 16, 2,200 × 125 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
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 205 total · 205 in this make and model · 61 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.27 inHg
- Observed at
- KBLI, 25 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.