# NTSB SEA99LA090: Piper PA-28-140, N9887W, Zillah, WA, June 19, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 1999, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Zillah, WA - Coordinates: 46.409591, -120.229751 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4096&lon=-120.2298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46650/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA090 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing adjacent to the runway. Factors include sun glare encountered at the time of the landing attempt. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot noted that the winds were calm at his destination airstrip. He approached to the east, into the morning sun, in order to land upslope on the grass airstrip. He said he positioned the plane in the center of the light green fresh mowed area, which he learned after landing was not all runway. He stated that the sun was in his eyes on final approach, obscuring details of the landing area. He touched down about 250 feet from the approach end with full flaps and a touch of power, using standard soft field techniques. The airplane slid down the side slope to the left and would not respond to right rudder inputs, until the left wing contacted a large wooden fence post and about four feet of the left wingtip separated. He stated that the day before the flight he obtained an airport briefing from a local pilot familiar with the airport. Sun azimuth at the time of the accident was 109.9; elevation was 49.4 degrees. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 1999, approximately 0815, a Piper PA-28-140, N9887W, sustained substantial damage during landing at Zillah, Washington. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which initiated at Prosser, Washington, about 20 minutes earlier. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There was no fire, and no report of an ELT actuating. In a written report, the pilot noted that the winds were calm. He approached to the east, into the morning sun, in order to land upslope on the grass airstrip. He said he positioned the plane in the center of the light green fresh mowed area, which he learned after landing was not all runway. He stated that the sun was in his eyes on final approach, obscuring details of the landing area. He touched down about 250 feet from the approach end with full flaps and a touch of power, using standard soft field techniques. The airplane slid down the side slope to the left and would not respond to right rudder inputs, until the left wing contacted a large wooden fence post and about four feet of the left wingtip separated. He stated that the day before the flight he obtained an airport briefing from a local pilot familiar with the airport. Sun azimuth at the time of the accident was 109.9; elevation was 49.4 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9887W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9887W-2009-08-24), registration cancelled 2009-08-24, S/N 28-23407, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-23407 - Airframe hours: 5114 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cormac C. Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 28, 1999, 24 hours before - Departed: S40, PROSSER, WA - Destination: 68WA - Airport: 68WA, Mcmahon, runway 9, 2,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 171 in this make and model, 5,700 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F 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.