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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 11, 2003 · Archer S-18T · N102PM

Arlington, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 11, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Arlington, WA
Aircraft
Archer S-18T
Tail Number
N102PM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA03LA134

The pilot, who was arriving at Arlington less than ten minutes prior to the time the field was to be closed for an air show, was instructed by the tower to turn base early in order to sequence him in front of an aircraft he was in trail of. Although he was instructed to turn base early so that he could land adjacent to a set of cones set near mid-field, the pilot did not see the cones most of the time he was on base leg. He said that while on base he did not see the cones until the last minute, and when he did, he initiated his turn to final. At the point he started the turn, he was approximately 50 feet above the surface, and because he was so close to the runway, he steepened his turn to near 60 degrees. During the turn the airplane stalled and rolled to a position where the wings where 90 degrees to the ground. The pilot then released back pressure, applied corrective rudder and aileron, and was able to get the wings level, but almost immediately thereafter the aircraft impacted the surface of the runway with sufficient force to result in substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above Vs (stalling speed) while making a close-in base-to-final turn.

Full Narrative

On July 11, 2003, approximately 1455 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Archer S-18T, N102PM, impacted the surface of the runway during a low-level base-to-final turn at Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Scappoose Industrial Airport, Scappoose, Oregon, about 55 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, who was arriving at Arlington less than ten minutes prior to the time the field was to be closed for an air show, the tower instructed him to turn base early in order to sequence him in front of an aircraft he was in trail of. Although he was instructed to turn base early so that he could land adjacent to a set of cones set near mid-field, the pilot did not see the cones most of the time he was on base leg. He said that while on base he did not see the cones until the last minute, and when he did, he initiated his turn to final. At the point he started the turn, he was approximately 50 feet above the surface, and because he was so close to the runway, he steepened his turn to near 60 degrees of bank. During the turn the airplane stalled and rolled to a position where the wings where 90 degrees to the ground. The pilot then released back pressure, applied corrective rudder and aileron, and was able to get the wings level, but almost immediately thereafter the aircraft impacted the surface of the runway with sufficient force to result in substantial damage.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:55 PDT
Nearest AirportArlington Municipal (0nm)
Runway34
Runway Length5333 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftArcher S-18T
Tail NumberN102PM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-C1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 62 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 5 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data