# NTSB SEA96LA177: Cessna U206F, N8313Q, Crane Island, WA, August 5, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 1996, 09:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Crane Island, WA - Coordinates: 48.57088, -122.960365 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5709&lon=-122.9604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42435 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42435/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA177 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to correctly judge the surface winds in the vicinity of the runway. Factors relating to the accident were: a tailwind during landing, a short runway with a wet surface, and an embankment/drop-off at the end of the airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - wind information - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis Before landing at the 1,800 foot long grass strip on Crane Island, the pilot flew over the strip to check its condition and to determine the wind direction. After the over-flight, he believed the wind was calm, so he elected to make his approach over water to the southeast. During roll-out on the wet/grass airstrip, the pilot was unable to stop before coming to the end. The aircraft then went over an embankment/drop-off at the end of the strip at an estimated speed of 10 to 12 mph. After the accident, the pilot determined that there had been an 8 to 10 knot tailwind, but the wind sock had not accurately reflected such a wind. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 1996, approximately 0925, Pacific daylight time, a Cessna U206F, N8313Q, operated by West Isle Air, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it overran the upwind end of a turf runway and slid over an embankment at a private airstrip on Crane Island, Washington. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. No flight plan had been filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight, which was an non-scheduled passenger flight from Anacortes to Crane Island, was to have been operated under 14CFR135 and departed Friday Harbor, an intermediate stop, approximately 0915. The pilot, who had not landed at this 1,800 foot, grass airstrip before, reported that prior to landing, he flew over the runway to check on its condition and to observe the winds. After making his observation, it appeared to him that the winds were calm, so he elected to approach the strip over the water, heading inland. After the touchdown, the pilot attempted to stop the aircraft on the wet grass runway, but in the last 100 to 200 feet of the remaining surface it became apparent that the aircraft would not stop prior to reaching the end. According to the pilot, the aircraft went off the embankment at the end of the runway while still at a speed of 10 to 12 m.p.h. After securing the passenger and aircraft, the pilot walked back up to the runway, where, according to the pilot, there was a tailwind that he estimated to be 8 to 10 knots. He said that even though the tailwind was present where he was standing, the wind sock was not indicating the presence of the wind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8313Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8313Q-2005-06-21), registration cancelled 2005-06-21, S/N U20603174, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna U206F - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20603174 - Airframe hours: 8601 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: West Isle Air - Registered owner: West Isle Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 31, 1996, 25 hours before - Departed: FRH, FRIDAY HARBOR, WA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Crane Island (Private), runway 13, 1,800 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,285 total, 196 in this make and model, 1,234 as pilot in command, 328 in the last 90 days, 102 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 19960805020899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960805020899A), Aug 5, 1996: Cessna U206F, Crane Island, WA, Substantial damage. Landed downwind on short wet grass strip. Unable stop. Overran runway down embankment. Misjudged wind wet runway. ## Other investigations on N8313Q (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 SEA05LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA036), Jan 14, 2005: Cessna U206F (N8313Q), Prevost, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot not identifying unsafe landing conditions, and his subsequent intentional swerve during the landing roll resulting in impacting a ditch. Contributing factors were the ice/frost on the… 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.