# NTSB SEA98LA041: Cessna 175, N7620M, Port Townsend, WA, February 26, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1998, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Port Townsend, WA
- Coordinates: 48.030975, -122.840599 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0310&lon=-122.8406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42760
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42760/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA041

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudged distance and speed during landing.  A factor was the wet grass runway.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

During a landing on a damp 1700-foot grass runway, the pilot overran the runway, hit a ditch, bounced over a road, and ended up in a ditch on the other side of the road.

## Factual narrative

On February 26, 1998, approximately 1400 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 175, N7620M, collided with terrain while landing at an unnamed private airstrip near Port Townsend, WA.  The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  The personal flight, which originated at Lebanon, Oregon about  1200 PST, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions.  An IFR flight plan had been filed for the flight, but was cancelled in the Port Townsend area prior to the landing.

During a telephone interview with the pilot and in the pilot's written statement, he said that he was landing on a damp 1700 ft grass runway.  He overran the runway, hit a ditch, bounced over a road, and ended up in a ditch on the other side of the road.  There were no mechanical failures reported by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7620M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7620M-2013-11-12), registration cancelled 2013-11-12, S/N 55920, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 175
- Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 55920
- Airframe hours: 2936
- Engines: Continental GO300C 175 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul B. Meadowbrook
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1997, 15 hours before
- Departed: S30, LEBANON, OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: runway 34, 1,700 × 45 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 900 total, 150 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported
- Wind: 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KNU, 17 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 19980226001889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980226001889A), Feb 26, 1998: Cessna 175, Port Townsend, WA, Substantial damage. Landed 165FT from end of runway into trees and a road. Failed to go around.

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.

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