# NTSB SEA83LA171: Republic RC-3, N22BH, Blakely Island, WA, August 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1983, 10:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Blakely Island, WA
- Coordinates: 48.56076, -122.799598 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5608&lon=-122.7996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39749
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39749/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA171

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - windshear (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE WAS ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 01, HE ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. A RAPID SINK RATE WAS ENCOUNTERED & HE WAS UNABLE TO FULLY RECOVER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE GEAR WAS SHEARED & THE FUSELAGE WAS SPLIT BY IMPACT, RUPTURING THE FUEL TANK. A FIRE ENSUED & THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WIND SHEAR WAS ENCOUNTERED NEAR A CLIFF AT THE APPROACH END OF RWY 1. HE REPORTED THAT THE WIND SOCK AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY WAS LIMP, WHILE THE WIND SOCK FOR RWY 19 INDICATED A WIND FROM THE NORTH AT 15 TO 20 KTS. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS A STRONG SOUTHERLY WIND AT THE WATER LEVEL ABOUT 1/4 MI FROM THE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22BH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22BH-1983-12-01), registration cancelled 1983-12-01, S/N 889 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: REPUBLIC RC-3
- Registry model: [Republic RC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/republic-rc-3) (registry code 3080202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 889
- Airframe hours: 1300
- Engines: LYCOMING GO-480 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John G. Fischer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1983
- Departed: LAKE SAMAMISH, WA
- Destination: S08, BLAKELY ISLAND, WA
- Airport: SO8, Blakely Island, runway 1, 2,000 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 919 total, 172 in this make and model, 767 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLI

## 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 19830807041399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830807041399A), Aug 7, 1983: Stolam RC3, Blakely Island, WA, Destroyed. Unchecked high sink rate on final. Aircraft hit runway in level attitude. Collapsed the gear. Split hull and burned.

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.

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