- Date
- July 16, 1999, 09:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place
- Stanley, ID
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5304KNavion B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990716042999A
- Case key
- 46985
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
An improperly planned approach and gusting wind conditions. A tailwind was a factor.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he first over flew the airstrip to assess the landing field. The pilot stated that he was aware that this was a 'one way strip' and that he would be landing with a tailwind of about ten knots. The pilot stated that just prior to flaring, the airplane was about 20 to 30 feet above ground level, when it suddenly went straight down. The pilot applied full power, however, the airplane continued the rapid descent and subsequently landed hard on all three landing gear. Both the pilot and the flight instructor on board felt that the aircraft was hit with a strong tailwind gust.
Factual narrative
On July 16, 1999, at 0955 mountain daylight time, a Navion B, N5304K, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, landed hard at the Sulphur Creek Ranch airstrip, located about 30 miles northwest of Stanley, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The flight departed from McCall, Idaho, about 30 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported that he was participating in a mountain flying seminar that consisted of practicing takeoffs and landings at high density altitude to short dirt/grass airstrips in canyons and valleys. The pilot stated that he circled the airstrip twice to assess the landing field. The pilot reported that he entered the pattern at about 900 feet above ground level for landing on runway 26 with a tailwind of about ten knots. The pilot stated that just prior to flaring, the airplane was about 20 to 30 feet above ground level, when it suddenly went straight down. The pilot applied full power, however, the airplane continued to descend and landed hard on all three landing gear. The landing roll was uneventful and the pilot taxied the airplane to parking to check for damage. The pilot reported that he felt that a sudden down draft or high tailwind gust caused the airplane to drop like it did.
The flight instructor reported that the pilot did not have time to react to the tailwind gust which resulted in the aircraft's rapid descent and subsequent hard landing.
The Idaho Airport Facilities Directory recommends "land runway 26 (upstream), takeoff runway 8 (downstream); one way strip."
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
- N5304K
- Reported as
- Navion B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2204B
- Airframe hours
- 2,600
- Engine
- Continental IO-520B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Theodore C. Carr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 5, 1999 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- MYL · Mccall, ID
- Airport
- Sulphur Creek Ranch, runway 26, 3,300 × 40 ft, grass/turf
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 491 total · 391 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 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.