Sport Flight International Astra accident near Spokane, Washington, September 27, 2008
On September 27, 2008 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Sport Flight International Astra (weight-shift aircraft), registered N3115C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Spokane, Washington (Felts Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive use of brakes and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2008 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Felts Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sport Flight International Astra S-2
- Registration
- N3115C · registry record · serial S06000109R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing roll and after applying brakes, he encountered a left/right oscillation that increased in intensity as he tried to correct with nose wheel steering. The pilot further reported that before he could get the airplane stopped it tipped over, impacting the runway surface with its nose cone and left wing. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector that the day before the accident he had replaced the two rear wheel brake pads with new ones and was warned not to apply the new brakes too heavily, or a loss of control might occur. The pilot revealed to the inspector that he applied more brakes than he should have during the landing roll. The pilot reported 19 hours flight time in make and model.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,003 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 25, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 73 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2008; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 980 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA at 5:07 pm
- Destination: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 21L, 3,059 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SFF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.