# NTSB SEA98LA151: Curtiss-Wright 12W, N11715, Woodland, WA, July 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1998, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Woodland, WA - Coordinates: 45.939224, -122.670883 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9392&lon=-122.6709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43580/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA151 ## Probable cause The pilot in command misjudged clearance from high vegetation when he landed. Factors include inadequate mowing of high vegetation by airport personnel, providing insufficient clearance for the wingspan of landing airplanes ## Analysis The pilot of the antique biplane stated that he preferred to land on grass when possible, so he elected to land on the 800 foot grass overrun area of the 1965 foot runway. From the air, the freshly mowed overrun looked acceptable, with the eight to nine foot high stand of scotch bloom showing as a dark green from the air and appearing to be grass. He slipped to a landing, touched down straight and was tracking near the middle of the mowed area when his right wing tip caught in the scotch bloom. The vegetation pulled the aircraft off the right side of the runway, and the lower left wing impacted the ground, causing substantial damage. According to FAA inspectors, the first signatures of impact were 62 feet from the near end of the runway. The airplane came to a stop 247 feet from the near end of the runway. The width of the mowed area of the runway was 49.5 feet, at the time the FAA inspector checked it. The pilot stated that the mowed overrun of 800 feet was mowed 25 feet wide up to the edge of the eight to nine feet high scrub brush at the time of the accident, and that his airplane had a 28 foot wing span. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1998, approximately 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Curtis-Wright 12W biplane, N11715, was substantially damaged when its right lower wing impacted tall vegetation at the edge of the runway while landing at Woodland, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight, which originated at Vancouver, Washington, about twenty minutes before the accident. There was no report of an ELT actuation. In his written statement, the pilot stated that "from the air, the freshly mowed overrun looked inviting. With the antique I prefer to land on grass over paving if I have the option. The local pilots were having a B-B-Q in the picnic area at the south end of the runway. I decided to land on the grass and pull off into the picnic area instead of having to back taxi on the pavement. The stand of scotch bloom showed as a dark green from the air and appeared to be grass. I slipped in, touched down straight and was tracking near the middle of the mowed area when my right wing tip caught in the scotch bloom, pulling me to the right and tipping me onto the left wing tips. The only damage was to both left wings and prop." The pilot told FAA inspectors that he was landing to the north when the lower right wing encountered tall grass and vegetation (later measured as 8-9 foot tall scotch broom). The vegetation pulled the aircraft off the right side of the runway, and the lower left wing impacted the ground, causing substantial damage. According to FAA inspectors, the first signatures of impact were 62 feet from the near end of the runway. The airplane came to a stop 247 feet from the near end of the runway. The width of the mowed area of the runway was 49.5 feet, at the time the FAA inspector checked it. The pilot stated that the mowed overrun of 800 feet was mowed 25 feet wide up to the edge of the eight to nine feet high scrub brush at the time of the accident, and that his airplane had a 28 foot wing span. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - other airport/runway maintenance - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11715](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11715), registered now, S/N 12W-2040, built 1931 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Curtiss-Wright 12W - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 12-W](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-12-w) (registry code 2621304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Warner SCARAB series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-scarab-series) (registry code 64502, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2040 - Airframe hours: 4018 - Engines: Kinner R-55 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul Lawrence - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 1998, 5 hours before - Departed: VANCOUVER, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: WA71, Woodland State, runway 31, 1,965 × 25 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 6,714 total, 1,254 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °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 19980726017589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980726017589A), Jul 26, 1998: Curtis TRAVELAIR12W, Woodland, WA, Substantial damage. Caught left wing in grass on edge runway. Ground looped. Damaged prop and wing. (.4)the pilot of the antique biplane stated that he preferred to land on grass… 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.