Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2 accident near Tumtum, Washington, May 26, 2002
On May 26, 2002 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2, registered N69AG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tumtum, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2002 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Tumtum, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2
- Registration
- N69AG · registry record · serial 1020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed from a meadow in the Arctic Aircraft S-1B2 "Arctic Tern," and after some local sightseeing returned for landing. He reported that just after touchdown he heard a "pop" and the landing gear collapsed. An FAA Inspector, who interviewed the pilot, reported that the pilot stated that upon touchdown the left main landing gear collapsed, the aircraft began skidding and then the right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then nosed over and came to a stop. The pilot reported that the landing site was a flat, dirt field. Metallurgical examination of the left landing gear attach fitting revealed fracture features and deformation typical of an overstress fracture under a combined torsion and bending load. There was no evidence of a pre-existing cracking condition at the fitting's separation surfaces.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 205 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 5, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,944 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 2001; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tumtum WA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Tumtum WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DEW, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.