# NTSB SEA96LA080: Cessna 150, N171RJ, Spiden Island, WA, April 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 1996, 19:30 local (Apr 13, 1996, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Spiden Island, WA - Coordinates: 48.529903, -123.060234 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5299&lon=-123.0602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42353/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA080 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of an unsuitable airstrip for the landing and subsequent takeoff, and his delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in an overrun and collision with an embankment and trees. Factors relating to the accident were: the short, wet, grassy, downhill airstrip conditions. ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had flown into the 1,500-foot grass airstrip earlier in the day with a flight instructor in a Cessna 185. After the landing, he and the instructor took off using 1/3 of the length of the airstrip. Later that day, the pilot rented a Cessna 150 and took a friend on a personal flight to the same airstrip. He stated that he landed the airplane uphill to the east without incident. He then turned around and began a takeoff roll downhill to the west on the wet grass airstrip. The pilot further stated that he aborted the takeoff 2/3 of the way down the strip because he believed he was not getting the necessary airspeed to rotate. He reduced the power and applied brakes, but was unable to stop the airplane before it impacted an embankment and trees on the opposite end of the airstrip. No mechanical malfunction was reported by the pilot. The pilot stated that the airstrip was 'too small' for the aircraft to take off and that he should not have landed there. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 1996, about 1930 hours Pacific daylight time, N171RJ, a Cessna 150, operated by Fountain Rental & Leasing, Inc., Bellingham, Washington, collided with trees during an aborted takeoff from an airstrip on Spiden Island, Washington, and was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was destined for Bellingham and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot stated that he had flown into the 1,500-foot grass airstrip at Spiden Island earlier in the day with a flight instructor in a Cessna 185. After the landing, he and the instructor immediately took off. He stated: "With all the power of a [Cessna] 185 we flew right off the ground using only 1/3 of the strip." Later that day, the pilot rented the Cessna 150 and took a friend on a personal flight to the same grass airstrip. He stated that he landed the airplane uphill to the east without incident. He then turned around and began a takeoff roll downhill to the west. The pilot further stated: We got about 2/3 of the way down the strip and I was not getting the necessary airspeed to rotate. At that moment I made the decision to pull off the power and stomp on the brakes. The strip was grass and wet and down hill. We subsequently could not stop in time and sailed off the end of the strip which was an embankment that went down hill through the trees. The airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged. No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot. The pilot also stated that "the strip was too small for the aircraft to take off on [and I] shouldn't have landed there with the conditions present." ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N171RJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N171RJ), registered now, S/N 15063038, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15063038 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fountain Rental/Leasing - Registered owner: Higginson, James - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: BLI, BELLINGHAM, WA - Airport: Spiden Island, runway 27, 1,500 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 503 total, 82 in this make and model, 349 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 180° at 15 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAE, 25 nm away From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.