# NTSB SEA94LA212: Avid Magnum, N180AB, Woodland, WA, August 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1994, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Woodland, WA - Coordinates: 45.939693, -122.670333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9397&lon=-122.6703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41999 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41999/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA212 ## Probable cause INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND CLEARANCE FROM TREES WAS NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TREES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLE THE GOLF COURSE AT LOW ALTITUDE BEFORE THE LANDING APPROACH WAS MADE. JUST BEFORE TOUCH DOWN, THE AIRPLANE CLIPPED TREES. THE RIGHT WING DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED BEFORE COMING TO REST. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 1994, approximately 1300 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), an experimental Avid Magnum, N180AB, registered to Mr. Robert Fudold, and being flown by Kenneth D. Probst, a private pilot, sustained substantial damage after colliding with trees and ground looping the airplane while landing on a golf course near Woodland, Washington. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been conducted in accordance with 14CFR91, and originated from the Woodland Airport (WA71), Woodland, Washington. The pilot reported that he was delivering the aircraft to a facility for the installation of pontoons. The accident flight, however, was for a lunch appointment with an acquaintance at the Woodland Golf Course. The pilot reported that the bungee cord restraining the right main landing gear became detached during the landing, and directional control of the aircraft was lost, and the airplane ground-looped. Witnesses at the golf course reported that the airplane circled the golf course at low altitude, approximately 30 feet above ground level, before setting up for the landing approach. Prior to touch down, the witnesses observed the airplane clip trees that lined the right side of fairway 9. After the collision with the trees, the airplane "turned dramatically to the right and dropped its wing (right side) to the ground thus causing a ground loop where the plane pivoted in a circle." The witnesses stated that when the pilot was asked if he was making an emergency landing, the pilot stated no and that the golf course was an FAA approved landing strip. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Hillsboro, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office reported that this is not an FAA approved landing strip, however, landings are made with the property owner's permission. ## Aircraft - Registration: N180AB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Avid Aircraft MAGNUM - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M-19 - Airframe hours: 50 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Probst, Kenneth, D. - Registered owner: Fudold, Robert T. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, June 30, 1994 - Departed: WA71, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,252 total, 25 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KLS, 15 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940815021479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940815021479A), Aug 15, 1994: Amtr MAGNUM, Woodland, WA, Substantial damage. Clipped trees landing on golf course. Impact detached right main bunge cord. Homebuilt ground looped. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.