- Date
- August 6, 2008, 17:10 local (Aug 7, 2008, 00:10 UTC)
- Place
- Waterville, WA
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1762CLyons Navajo HKS
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Spokane, Washington
- FAA report
- 20080806841979A
- Case key
- 68646
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 aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was a microburst condition.
Findings · 2
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
The sport pilot flight instructor reported that while maneuvering during a local instructional flight, he noticed dust forming in a circular pattern in the air near their position. The student pilot, who was flying the airplane, initiated a climbing 180-degree turn towards their point of departure. While approaching a ridge line about 800 feet above ground level, the instructor noted the turbulence was increasing, and when the airplane started to descend, he took the controls. The instructor stated that despite using full throttle, the airplane continued to descend rapidly while "getting forced down by a microburst," prompting him to initiate a forced landing in an open field. The instructor added that due to the low altitude, he was unable to align the airplane with the rows of dirt. During the approach to landing, the airplane "caught some lift" and subsequently entered a "strong down draft" and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane by the instructor revealed that both wings and fuselage framing were structurally damaged. The instructor stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine or flight control system that would have prevented normal operation.
Factual narrative
The sport pilot flight instructor reported that while maneuvering during a local instructional flight, he noticed dust forming in a circular pattern within the air near their position. The student pilot, who was flying the airplane, initiated a climbing 180-degree turn towards their point of departure. While approaching a ridge line about 800 feet above ground level, the instructor noted the turbulence was increasing while the airplane started to descend and took control of the airplane. The instructor stated that despite using full throttle, the airplane continued to descend rapidly while "getting forced down by a microburst," prompting him to initiate a forced landing into an open field. The instructor added that due to the low altitude, he was unable to align the airplane with the rows of dirt. During the approach to landing, the airplane "caught some lift" and subsequently entered a "strong down draft" and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane by the instructor revealed that both wings and fuselage framing were structurally damaged. The instructor stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the engine or flight control system that would have prevented normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1762C
- Reported as
- Lyons Navajo HKS
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 74178
- Engine
- HKS 700E, 60 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- John Winkenwader
- Registered owner
- Robert Lyons
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- S10 · Chelan, WA
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Sport Pilot, Flight instructor
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2008
- Flight hours
- 397 total · 64 in this make and model · 343 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Flight hours
- 8 total · 6 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 93 °F
- Observed at
- S10, 10 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.
Other investigations on N1762C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.