# NTSB SEA97LA113: Cessna 207, N7405, Roche Harbor, WA, May 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 1997, 10:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Roche Harbor, WA - Coordinates: 48.529441, -123.059349 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5294&lon=-123.0593&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42607 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42607/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate remedial action upon encountering a downdraft on final approach. The downdraft was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on short final for landing at a one-way-in airstrip with a quartering right tailwind, he felt a slight 'push' from above and behind the airplane. The pilot applied a little power and up-elevator. The pilot stated that about one second later he felt the airplane descend toward the tall grass overrun by a 'powerful, yet smooth down draft or wind shear.' The pilot stated that he applied full power and up-elevator, however, the airplane continued to descend and struck the ground at about 60 knots, and 50 feet short of the airstrip. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed down. The right wing contacted the surface and the airplane spun around about 60 degrees to the right. The operator reported that the wind was from 030 degrees at 12 knots at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 1997, approximately 1025 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 207, N7405, operated by West Isle Air Inc. of Anacortes, Washington, was substantially damaged when it landed approximately 50 feet short of the Stuart Island West private airstrip, located approximately 5 miles northwest of Roche Harbor, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the aircraft's sole occupant, was not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions existed and the flight was utilizing company flight following for the 14 CFR part 91 positioning flight, which originated at Friday Harbor, Washington, about ten minutes prior to the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he approached the airstrip from the east and maneuvered for a landing to the west. The pilot was aware of the right quartering tailwind that he would be landing with because this airstrip is a one-way in through a heavily forested valley with 800 to 1,200 foot ridges on either side. The pilot stated that he overflew the airstrip at 700 feet to check the field and wind conditions. The pilot stated that he turned onto a right downwind and applied 10 degrees of flaps. The pilot continued to slow the aircraft to 80 knots on the base leg and turned onto final approach to line-up with the airstrip. Full flaps were applied while on final approach. The pilot stated that as the flight continued to descend on final approach, the airspeed was decreased to 65 knots, when he noticed a slight "push" from above and behind the airplane. The pilot applied a little power and up-elevator. The pilot stated that about one second later, he felt the airplane descend toward the tall grass overrun by a "powerful, yet smooth down draft or wind shear." The pilot stated that he applied full power and up elevator, however, the aircraft continued to descend and struck the ground at about 60 knots, and 50 feet short of the airstrip. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed down. The right wing contacted the surface and the airplane spun around about 60 degrees to the right. FAA information on the airstrip, obtained via computer from a commercial World Wide Web site, lists the Stuart Island West dirt airstrip as being oriented east/west and 1,560 feet long. The information also states that all landings at the airstrip must be made to the west. Wind information obtained from the operator indicates that the wind was from 030 degrees at 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7405 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 207 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20700147 - Airframe hours: 4407 - Engines: Continental IO-520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: West Isle Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 13, 1997, 25 hours before - Departed: FHR, FRIDAY HARBOR, WA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Stuart West, runway 27, 1,560 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,112 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 238 in the last 90 days, 92 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 12 knots - Visibility: 75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19970518011089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970518011089A), May 18, 1997: Cessna T207, Roche Harbor, WA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed short of runway. (.4) the pilot reported that while on short final for landing at a one-way-in airstrip with a quartering right tailwind, he… 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.