# NTSB WPR14CA162: Cessna 207, N685S, Shaw Island, WA, April 8, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 8, 2014, 11:26 local (18:26 UTC)
- Place: Shaw Island, WA
- Coordinates: 48.575553, -122.97528 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5756&lon=-122.9753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89035/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA162

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing flare with a gusting tailwind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 207, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073602), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the landing flare on the uphill runway of the private grass airstrip, the airplane encountered a quartering tailwind gust causing it to shift left of the centerline. The pilot applied corrective control inputs avoiding a ditch; however, the left horizontal stabilizer struck a rock berm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airstrip was comprised of grass and gravel, and was wet at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

During the landing flare on the uphill runway of the private grass airstrip, the airplane encountered a quartering tailwind gust causing it to shift left of the centerline. The pilot applied corrective control inputs avoiding a ditch; however, the left horizontal stabilizer struck a rock berm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airstrip was comprised of grass and gravel, and was wet at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N685S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N685S), registered now, S/N 20700184, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (registry code 2073602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700184
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 19106
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Aircraft Adventures LLC, doing business as Northwest Skyferry/San Juan Airlines
- Registered owner: Aircraft Adventures LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 30, 2014, 33 hours before
- Departed: FHR, Friday Harbor, WA
- Destination: PVT, Shaw Island, WA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: PVT, Shaw Island, runway 01, 1,750 × 30 ft, gravel
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 17, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 28,000 total, 16 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: BLI, 25 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 20140408003789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140408003789A), Apr 8, 2014: Cessna 207, Shaw Island, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of a/c on landing touchdown. Bounced on rt wheel then lt, then rt,lt, rt. A/c veered to the left causing the tail to strike a burm

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89035. 7.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 657 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Runway (item 2, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Runway-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Rock Berm (item 3, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Rock%20Berm%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Damage to Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Damage%20to%20Airplane%0D%0A-Master.PDF

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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