- Date
- November 7, 1993, 15:42 local (23:42 UTC)
- Place
- Spokane, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N71GSSpringer Christina Minicoupe
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931107052219A
- Case key
- 41850
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot in command's failure to maintain a proper descent rate.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he had 'a nice straight in approach with plenty of airspeed.' As the aircraft passed over the numbers a high sink rate developed and the aircraft landed hard. Winds were calm at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On November 7, 1993, at 1542 hours Pacific standard time (PST), a Springer Christina Minicoupe, N71GS, registered to and being flown by James S. Bleasner, a certificated private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing on runway 3 left, at Felts Field, Spokane, Washington. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions with calm winds existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91 and originated from Felts Field at approximately 1540 hours.
The pilot reported that the "final approach seemed normal enough and I had a nice straight in approach with plenty of airspeed" and that "just as I was coming in over the numbers about 10 feet AGL (above ground level), the aircraft suddenly dropped to the runway surface, damaging the aircraft." The aircraft subsequently veered left off the runway striking a VASI box and runway light before it came to rest.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N71GS
- Reported as
- Springer Christina Minicoupe (CHRISTINA)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- MC104
- Airframe hours
- 436
- Engine
- Volkswagen 2100D, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bleasner, James, S.
- Registered owner
- Bleasner, James, S.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 6, 1993 · 0 hours before
- Destination
- SFF
- Airport
- SFF · Felts Field, runway 3L, 4,500 × 150 ft, concrete
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
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 181 total · 1 in this make and model · 114 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SFF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.