- Date
- September 10, 1995, 13:08 local (20:08 UTC)
- Place
- Yakima, WA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N308RASocata Rallye 150 ST
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950910028219A
- Case key
- 42246
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 pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. The downdraft was a factor.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that prior to takeoff he noted that the wind sock was limp. After takeoff and at an altitude of about 100 feet, the airplane experienced a sink rate that the pilot felt the airplane could not out climb. The pilot elected to initiate an off airstrip landing and selected an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with trees and rough terrain. The pilot stated that a ten knot wind was present over the river near the end of the runway, along with turbulent conditions over trees at the departure end.
Factual narrative
On September 10, 1995, at 1308 Pacific daylight time, a S.O.C.A.T.A. Rallye 150 ST, N308RA, collided with the terrain shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near Yakima, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his two passengers were not injured.
During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that prior to takeoff he noted that the windsock was slack. The pilot elected to take off on runway 27, and stated that the airplane climbed to approximately 100 feet then experienced a sink rate that the pilot felt the airplane could not out climb. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field where during the landing roll, the airplane collided with trees and rough terrain.
The pilot stated that a ten knot wind was present over the river near the end of the runway, along with turbulent conditions over trees at the departure end.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N308RA
- Reported as
- Socata Rallye 150 ST (RALLYE 150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2993
- Airframe hours
- 1,250
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mccormick, Robert E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 28, 1994 · 15 hours before
- Airport
- runway 27, 2,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 967 total · 720 in this make and model · 921 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- YKM, 5 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.