# NTSB SEA95LA107: Cessna 172B, N7996X, Sinclair Island, WA, May 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 1995, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Sinclair Island, WA - Coordinates: 48.629329, -122.800834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6293&lon=-122.8008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42155/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA107 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A TAILWIND, WET GRASS, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO THE DOWNWIND LANDING ON THE WET GRASS STRIP, THE TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS FURTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY THAN ANTICIPATED. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT APPLIED LIGHT BRAKING, AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP IMMEDIATELY. BRAKING CONTINUED TO BE INEFFECTIVE DUE TO THE WET GRASS. THE PILOT RELEASED THE BRAKES FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THEN REAPPLIED THEM; THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED SLIDING AND FINALLY IMPACTED A BARBED WIRE FENCE AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 1995, about 1015 hours Pacific daylight time, N7996X, a Cessna 172B, operated by the owner/pilot, impacted a fence during landing roll and was substantially damaged on Sinclair Island, Washington. The certified flight instructor and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed from Auburn, Washington, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot-in-command, who was seated in the right front seat, the braking action of the airplane was ineffective during landing roll on a 1,500-foot private grass strip. The pilot stated that due to a downwind landing, his touchdown was further down the runway than anticipated. He stated that he applied light braking after touchdown and the brakes locked up due to moisture on the grass left behind by morning ground fog. He released the brakes to maintain aircraft control. As he approached the end of the landing area, the pilot reapplied brakes, but the aircraft continued sliding on the wet grass and impacted a barbed wire fence at the end of the landing area. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and that the braking was ineffective due to the short, wet grass on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7996X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7996X), registered now, S/N 17248496, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172B - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17248496 - Airframe hours: 5553 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Damond A. Laconte - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 17, 1994, 167 hours before - Departed: S50, AUBURN, WA - Airport: Sinclair, runway 36, 1,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 932 total, 620 in this make and model, 851 as pilot in command, 182 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19950527040269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950527040269A), May 27, 1995: Cessna 172B, Sinclair Island, WA, Substantial damage. Landed downwind. Unable stop on wet grass. Slid off end of Private strip. Struck a fence. ## Other investigations on N7996X (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA69D0191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA69D0191), Feb 6, 1969: Cessna 172B (N7996X), Shelton, WA, substantial damage 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.