# NTSB SEA96LA123: Cessna 182, N5686B, Roche Harbor, WA, June 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 1996, 13:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Roche Harbor, WA - Coordinates: 48.53099, -123.060157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5310&lon=-123.0602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42394/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA123 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to attain a proper touchdown point for landing. Factors relating to the accident were: downdraft conditions and soft/uneven terrain short of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Fire, other ## Analysis During final approach to runway 24 at a private airport, the pilot encountered a downdraft and touched down more than 100 feet short of the threshold. During the aircraft's rollout over soft/uneven terrain preceding the threshold, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then passed onto the runway surface skidding to a stop. A postcrash fire then consumed the aircraft after all four occupants exited. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 1996, approximately 1305 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N5686B, being flown by a private pilot, was destroyed in a post-crash fire following the collapse of the nose landing gear upon landing at the Roche Harbor airport, Roche Harbor, Washington. The pilot and three passengers escaped without injury. Visual meteorological conditions existed and a VFR flight plan had just been closed prior to landing. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the Arlington airport, Arlington, Washington, approximately 1230. The pilot was interviewed by a deputy of the San Juan County Sheriff's Office (Case number 96-1575) immediately following the accident and reported that "as he approached for his landing on (runway) 24, he encountered a `downdraft' which caused his landing gear to touch down in the soft soil approximately 150 feet short of the end of the runway" and that his "gear dug in and then just broke." During the landing roll, and prior to rolling onto the runway surface, the nose landing gear separated. The aircraft then continued onto the gravel runway. During the ground slide, a small fire broke out. Once the aircraft came to a stop all four occupants exited and the aircraft was subsequently consumed by the post crash fire. The airport manager reported in a telephone conversation that there was a shallow "swale" crossing the primary surface at the approach end of runway 24 and that he estimated the touchdown point of the Cessna as at least 100 feet from the threshold. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5686B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5686B-1997-03-24), registration cancelled 1997-03-24, S/N 33686 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33686 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Walther, George, R. - Registered owner: Healy, Jack, W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AWO, ARLINGTON, WA - Destination: 9S1 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 9S1, Roche Harbor, runway 24, 4,300 × 35 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 205 total, 202 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: YYJ, 11 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 19960616014009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960616014009A), Jun 16, 1996: Cessna 182, Roche Harbor, WA, Destroyed. Landed short in mud. Gear dug in and broke off. Fire during belly slide on gravel runway. Plane burned. ## Other investigations on N5686B (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 DEN68D0262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68D0262), May 15, 1968: Cessna 182 (N5686B), Alpine, WY, 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.