Amateur-built SA-300 accident near Yakima, Washington, May 9, 2003
On May 9, 2003 at about 9:15 pm local time, a amateur-built SA-300, registered N147DA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yakima, Washington (Yakima Air Terminal airport). It was an instructional 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
Directional control was not maintained during the landing roll. A steering spring disconnected as a result of a tailwheel shimmy was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2003 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Yakima, Washington · Yakima Air Terminal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-300
- Registration
- N147DA · no longer on the register · serial 2021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had accomplished about six landings without incident prior to the final landing. During the landing roll, when the tailwheel contacted the surface, a severe vibration was felt. The aircraft immediately weathervaned to the right into the wind. Left rudder control and braking action were not effective and the aircraft subsequently ground looped. Post-accident inspection noted a loss of friction to the tailwheel anti-shimmy clutch. Both steering springs were also disconnected.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,637 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2002; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,986 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YKM Yakima WA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: YKM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 7,603 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from YKM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.