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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 27, 1995 · Cessna 172B · N7996X

Sinclair Island, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 27, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Sinclair Island, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 172B
Tail Number
N7996X
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA95LA107

THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO THE DOWNWIND LANDING ON THE WET GRASS STRIP, THE TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS FURTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY THAN ANTICIPATED. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT APPLIED LIGHT BRAKING, AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP IMMEDIATELY. BRAKING CONTINUED TO BE INEFFECTIVE DUE TO THE WET GRASS. THE PILOT RELEASED THE BRAKES FOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THEN REAPPLIED THEM; THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED SLIDING AND FINALLY IMPACTED A BARBED WIRE FENCE AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A TAILWIND, WET GRASS, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.

Full Narrative

On May 27, 1995, about 1015 hours Pacific daylight time, N7996X, a Cessna 172B, operated by the owner/pilot, impacted a fence during landing roll and was substantially damaged on Sinclair Island, Washington. The certified flight instructor and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed from Auburn, Washington, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot-in-command, who was seated in the right front seat, the braking action of the airplane was ineffective during landing roll on a 1,500-foot private grass strip. The pilot stated that due to a downwind landing, his touchdown was further down the runway than anticipated. He stated that he applied light braking after touchdown and the brakes locked up due to moisture on the grass left behind by morning ground fog. He released the brakes to maintain aircraft control. As he approached the end of the landing area, the pilot reapplied brakes, but the aircraft continued sliding on the wet grass and impacted a barbed wire fence at the end of the landing area. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and that the braking was ineffective due to the short, wet grass on the runway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 PDT
Nearest AirportSINCLAIR (0nm)
Runway36
Runway Length1500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172B
Tail NumberN7996X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 5 kt, gusting 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data