# NTSB SEA92LA129: William Bovard Glasair, N107WB, Woodland, WA, June 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1992, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Woodland, WA
- Coordinates: 45.939601, -122.670249 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9396&lon=-122.6702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42836
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42836/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA129

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE AIRSPEED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A TAILWIND TAKEOFF AND POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Fire, other

## Analysis

DURING A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY AND DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET, WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH 60 FOOT TREES, LOCATED 1,350 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND 160 FEET TO THE LEFT OF CENTERLINE. THE AIRPLANE FELL TO THE GROUND, AT THE BASE OF THE TREES AND WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. THIS AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH TWO FOOT WING EXTENSIONS AND HAD THE ORIGINAL SMALL RUDDER. INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY THE VENDOR, STODDARD HAMILTON, HAS REPORTED THAT IF MINIMUM AIRSPEED IS NOT MAINTAINED, THE SMALL RUDDER MAY NOT MAINTAIN ADEQUATE YAW CONTROL. THE VENDOR RECOMMENDS THAT THE, NOW STANDARD, LARGE RUDDER BE INSTALLED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N107WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N107WB-1992-09-23), registration cancelled 1992-09-23, S/N 572 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WILLIAM BOVARD GLASAIR
- Registry model: [Bovard William J SHA GLASAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/bovard-william-j-sha-glasair) (registry code 05655RN) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 572
- Airframe hours: 500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bovard, William J.
- Registered owner: Bovard, William J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 17, 1992, 2 hours before
- Destination: VANCOUVER, WA
- Airport: WA71, Woodland, runway 13, 1,965 × 25 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,686 total, 1,524 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19920618021149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920618021149A), Jun 18, 1992: Amtr GLASAIR, Woodland, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed in gusty quartering tailwind. Lost control,veered into trees. Small rudder not recommended with tip tanks.

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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