# NTSB SEA96LA208: Cessna 150M, N3882V, Paterson, WA, August 15, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1996, 17:07 local (Aug 15, 1996, 00:07 UTC) - Place: Paterson, WA - Coordinates: 45.939918, -119.659927 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9399&lon=-119.6599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42459 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42459/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA208 ## Probable cause failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during a landing, which resulted in an uncontrolled ground loop/swerve. Factors relating to the accident were: the gusty crosswind condition, and soft terrain beside the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot landed at an airstrip that was not on his planned itinerary for a multi-leg cross-country solo flight. He stated to the airplane owner that he had 'ground-looped' when landing at an airstrip near a winery. During the occurrence, the airplane contacted soft, sandy soil, where the nose landing gear collapsed and the right wingtip struck the ground. The FAA determined that the student had a passenger on board at the time of the accident. The passenger described a loss of control during the approach and landing. The winds were gusty at the time of the occurrence. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 1996, at 1707 Pacific daylight time, N3882V, a Cessna 150M, sustained substantial damage during a landing at a private airstrip near the Columbia Crest Winery, Paterson, Washington. The student pilot, who was on a solo cross-country flight, was uninjured. According to the airplane's owner, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight. There was no record of the ELT actuating. The owner of the aircraft, who reported the accident, stated that the student had planned his "long" cross-country flight to depart Olympia, with landings at Wenatchee, Ellensburg, Yakima, Toledo, and return to Olympia. (All destinations were in Washington.) The student contacted him and stated that he had ground-looped when landing at the private airstrip, which was not a planned stop on his cross-country flight. The aircraft was inspected by FAA inspectors and, on September 3, 1996, was determined to have sustained substantial damage during the accident. FAA inspectors were told that the student pilot had a female passenger on board, and that he has disappeared and his family has no contact with him. The female passenger provided a statement, stating that "we were traveling about 70 mph by the gauge in the plane and about 100 feet off the ground when the nose dipped up then down again and then turned to the left. The plane continued to veer to the left and about 65 feet off the ground we were turned completely sideways headed south but moving west. A few seconds later the nose dove and turned west a few degrees into the wind. The wings began to seesaw up and down, we hit the ground still moving sideways, then pitched forward into the ditch that ran parallel to the runway." In an earlier verbal statement to local investigators, the passenger stated that the airplane's right wing tipped down just before touchdown, believing this to be caused by a gust of wind. As the gust dissipated, the left wingtip touched the runway surface, causing the airplane to pivot sharply to the left, where it left the runway. The airplane contacted soft, sandy soil, where the nose landing gear collapsed and the right wingtip struck the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3882V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3882V-2021-05-29), registration cancelled 2021-05-29, S/N 15076644, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076644 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eldon Flahaut - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: UNKNOWN - Airport: WA76, Columbia Crest Winery, runway 25, 3,600 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 20 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 11 knots ## 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 19960814045269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960814045269A), Aug 14, 1996: Cessna 150M, Patterson, WA, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing. Skidded sideways dipping a wing. Exited runway. Nose gear folded wing hit ground. 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.