# NTSB SEA97LA078: Cessna 177B, N35034, Everett, WA, March 23, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1997, 15:08 local (23:08 UTC)
- Place: Everett, WA
- Coordinates: 47.980213, -122.199943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9802&lon=-122.1999&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42576/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA078

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane after landing.  Factors relating to the accident include: a blown (failed) nose tire, 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
  - landing gear,tire - failure (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that she made a normal landing, but after lowering the nose, she 'felt a jolt (or crunch), bounced slightly, landed a second time, losing direction control to the left. The plane veered into the soft dirt and grass, which was very wet, most likely due to the rain that morning and the day before. The plane came to a stop with the nose gear embedded in the dirt.'  In her written statement, the pilot stated that she believed the nose tire blew on contact with the runway, and that it was a contributing factor to the loss of directional control.

## Factual narrative

On March 23, 1997, at 1508 Pacific standard time, N35034, a Cessna 177B, sustained substantial damage when its pilot lost directional control after landing at Paine Field, Everett, Washington.  The private pilot and her two passengers were uninjured.  The flight had departed Boeing Field on a pleasure flight that was planned to include landings at Paine Field and Bremerton.  No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted in visual meteorological conditions.  There was no report of the ELT actuating.

The pilot stated that she made a normal landing.  On letting down the nose, she "felt a jolt (or crunch), bounced slightly, landed a second time, losing direction control to the left.  The plane veered into the soft dirt and grass, which was very wet, most likely due to the rain that morning and the day before.  The plane came to a stop with the nose gear embedded in the dirt."

FAA inspectors and a local FBO determined that the airplane had sustained substantial damage.  In her written statement, the pilot stated that she believed the nose tire blew on contact with the runway, and that it was a contributing factor to the loss of directional control.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35034](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35034), registered now, S/N 17702170 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 177B
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17702170
- Airframe hours: 4420
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kencaps Flying Club, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 1996, 514 hours before
- Departed: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Destination: PAE
- Airport: PAE, Paine Field, runway 34R, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 614 total, 553 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KPA

## 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 19970323018679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970323018679A), Mar 23, 1997: Cessna 177B, Everett, WA, Substantial damage. Bounced landing. Lost control. Veered into soft dirt. Nosewheel dug in. Beleived blew nose tire.

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.