# NTSB SEA96LA116: Cessna 172L, N7849G, Sisters, OR, June 8, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 1996, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Sisters, OR - Coordinates: 44.409702, -121.920455 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4097&lon=-121.9205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42387/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA116 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during a go-around, which resulted in his failure to maintain proper runway alignment. Factors relating to the accident were: the variable/gusty crosswind condition, and the proximity of the hanger and fence to the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - initiated, pilot in command - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - hangar/airport building (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land on runway 20 with a crosswind from the right. The passenger (his wife) stated: 'We were coming in for a landing which seemed to be right on target. On touchdown we became airborne two times and on the third time the pilot decided to do a go around when a gust of wind pushed us into a [hangar], [through] a fence where we came to a stop....' The hangar and fence were located about 185 feet (left) from the runway edge. The pilot reported variable winds between 15 and 20 knots. About 17 miles east at Redmond, CA, the 1435 PDT wind was from 330 degrees at 12 gusting 16 knots. The pilot's third class medical certificate was dated 4/16/93, although he was issued a new third class certificate on 6/12/96. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 1996, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, N7849G, a Cessna 172, sustained substantial damage in a collision with a hangar and fence during an attempted go-around from landing at Sisters Eagle Air Airport, Sisters, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight, operated under 14 CFR 91, and flown by the aircraft owner with one passenger aboard, originated at Portland-Troutdale Airport, Portland, Oregon, and was on a visual flight rules flight plan. The private pilot and passenger (the pilot's wife) were not injured. The pilot was attempting to land on runway 20 at Sisters (3,550 by 50 feet, asphalt, elevation 3,168 feet above sea level.) An FAA inspector assigned to the accident reported that the pilot told him that on the pilot's third landing attempt, a "gust of wind" blew the aircraft off course to the left, and that the airplane then struck the hangar and the fence, spun around facing 180 degrees to its direction of travel, and came to rest. The pilot reported winds on his NTSB accident report as being variable at 15 to 20 knots and indicated that there was light to moderate turbulence. Winds at Redmond (17 nautical miles east of the accident site) at 1435 were reported as being from 330 degrees magnetic at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The pilot did not provide a written narrative account of the event on the accident report, nor did he sign or date his accident report. The passenger reported: "We were coming in for a landing which seemed to be right on target. On touchdown we became airborne two times and on the third time the pilot decided to do a go around when a gust of wind pushed us into a [hangar], [through] a fence where we came to a stop...." The FAA inspector assigned to the accident, who responded to the scene, reported that the hangar the airplane struck was approximately 185 feet from the runway. The inspector also reported that winds were gusty, and that there were altocumulus standing lenticular clouds to the north of the airport, during his post-accident on-site examination. He stated that control cable continuity on the aircraft was good. The FAA inspector stated an opinion to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that terrain conditions at the airport were conducive to generation of "severe localized crosswind[s]" or "rotor[s]." The U.S. Government Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) notes the presence of rising terrain off the departure end of runway 2. Copies of FAA medical certificates furnished by the pilot with his accident report indicated that the pilot's most recent FAA medical certificate as of the date of the accident was a Third Class medical dated April 16, 1993. Per 14 CFR 61.23c, this certificate would have expired on April 30, 1995. The pilot also submitted a copy of a Third Class medical certificate dated June 12, 1996, four days after the accident. Neither medical certificate contained any limitations or restrictions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7849G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7849G-2002-06-20), registration cancelled 2002-06-20, S/N 17259549, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259549 - Airframe hours: 3918 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel J. Mckenna - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1996, 0 hours before - Departed: TTD, TROUTDALE, OR - Destination: 6K5 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 6K5, Sisters Eagle Air, runway 20, 3,550 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 271 total, 178 in this make and model, 222 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 40 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 19960608013109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960608013109A), Jun 8, 1996: Cessna 172L, Sisters, OR, Substantial damage. Reported wind gust bew 172 off runway alighnment. Tried go around struck a hangar. Landing in severe gusty winds. 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.