Cessna 182A accident near Silverdale, Washington, July 18, 1999
On July 18, 1999 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N3900D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Silverdale, Washington (Apex Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's misjudgment of distance/altitude (undershoot) on final, and his failure to maintain directional control during the aborted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1999 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Silverdale, Washington · Apex Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N3900D · no longer on the register · serial 34600
- 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 he was 'low and slow' on approach to the divert airport's runway 35. An FAA inspector observed wheel touchdown marks 90 feet short of the threshold. A witness reported that the aircraft was 'landing with full flaps, low energy nose high attitude' and that he 'heard the engine speed increase and a pop of the engine and the engine remained at full throttle for approx(imately) eight seconds.' The witness also reported the winds as calm at the time. The pilot reported that he 'gave the aircraft more power and felt that there was not enough pressure and the nose pitched up and he lost view of the runway' and that he 'lost control on landing to [the] right side.' The aircraft then collided with a tree and a parked Beech Bonanza.
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
- Flight time: 2,770 hours in all; 2,012 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1999; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CLS Chehalis WA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: ORS Eastsound WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:14 pm from PWT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.