# NTSB SEA92LA165: Piper PA-24-260, N139CA, Spokane, WA, July 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1992, 16:11 local (23:11 UTC)
- Place: Spokane, WA
- Coordinates: 47.620761, -117.399185 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6208&lon=-117.3992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42862
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42862/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA165

## Probable cause

THE PREMATURE LANDING FLARE BY THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, AND HER FAILURE TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING.  A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE ACFT LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY, AND IMPACTED TERRAIN.  THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS 14 GUSTING TO 22 KNOTS. THE PILOT WAS CERTIFICATED ON 10/23/91 AND HAD 15 HOURS TOTAL FLT TIME AS PIC IN THE PA24 ACFT.  THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER, SEATED IN THE RIGHT SEAT, WHO HAD 544 HOURS FLT TIME AND 362 HOURS PIC TIME IN THE PIPER PA24 ACFT, TOOK NO CORRECTIVE ACTION DURING THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N139CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N139CA), registered now, S/N 24-4570, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4570
- Airframe hours: 5238
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Boubel, Thomas R.
- Registered owner: Boubel, Richard W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1991, 130 hours before
- Departed: 3S2, AURORA, OR
- Airport: GEG, Spokane International, runway 21, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 110 total, 38 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920726028119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920726028119A), Jul 26, 1992: Piper PA24260, Spokane, WA, Substantial damage. Hard landing. Swerved off runway into rough terrain. Low time in type and as pilot. Pilot passenger took no action.

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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