- Date
- July 18, 1999, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Silverdale, WA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3900DCessna 182A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990718009159A
- Case key
- 46982
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot-in-command's misjudgment of distance/altitude (undershoot) on final, and his failure to maintain directional control during the aborted landing.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was 'low and slow' on approach to the divert airport's runway 35. An FAA inspector observed wheel touchdown marks 90 feet short of the threshold. A witness reported that the aircraft was 'landing with full flaps, low energy nose high attitude' and that he 'heard the engine speed increase and a pop of the engine and the engine remained at full throttle for approx(imately) eight seconds.' The witness also reported the winds as calm at the time. The pilot reported that he 'gave the aircraft more power and felt that there was not enough pressure and the nose pitched up and he lost view of the runway' and that he 'lost control on landing to [the] right side.' The aircraft then collided with a tree and a parked Beech Bonanza.
Factual narrative
On July 18, 1999, approximately 1015 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N3900D, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with a tree and a parked Beech Bonanza while attempting to abort a landing at the Apex Airpark, Silverdale, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions were reported to have existed at the time, and no flight plan was in effect. The flight, which was personal, was believed to have originated from Santa Rosa, California, and had stopped for fuel at Chehalis, Washington, departing approximately 0900 on the morning of the accident. The flight was en route to Eastsound, the San Juan Islands, Washington.
The pilot reported that near Bangor, Washington, he turned back and diverted into the Apex Airpark due to low ceiling weather conditions. He made a left downwind entry to runway 35.
According to an interview with the witness by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Flight Standards District Office (Renton), the aircraft was observed "landing with full flaps, low energy nose high attitude." The witness reported that he "heard the engine speed increase and a pop of the engine and the engine remained at full throttle for approx(imately) eight seconds." The witness reported the winds as calm at the time.
The FAA inspector reported that during his on-site inspection, he noted marks associated with the aircraft's wheels in the dirt approximately 90 feet short of the threshold to runway 35.
The pilot was interviewed by the same FAA inspector telephonically, and reported that "he felt that he was low and slow" and that he "used 40 degrees of flaps." The inspector also reported that the pilot stated he "gave the aircraft more power and felt that there was not enough pressure and the nose pitched up and he lost view of the runway."
The pilot reported in his completed NTSB form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report - attached) that he "lost control on landing to [the] right side - hit airport owner's airplane." The pilot also indicated that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft. Additionally, he remarked on NTSB form 6120.1/2 under the 'Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented):' "1) Not having taken off" and "2) Pilot not having his head up and locked and losing control on landing."
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3900D
- Reported as
- Cessna 182A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 34600
- Airframe hours
- 3,209
- Engine
- Continental O-470-L, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Manly, William, K.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 2, 1999 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- CLS · Chehalis, WA
- Destination
- ORS · Eastsound, WA
- Airport
- S42 · Apex Airpark, runway 35, 2,500 × 28 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,770 total · 2,012 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PWT, 10 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.