Amateur-built GLASTAR SP accident near Coupeville, Washington, June 22, 2009
On June 22, 2009 at about 10:15 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASTAR SP, registered N5617, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Coupeville, Washington. 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 improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing on soft/grassy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2009 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Coupeville, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASTAR SP
- Registration
- N5617 · registry record · serial 7090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While the pilot was practicing off-airport landings in a field next to his home, he inadvertently allowed the airplane's nosewheel strut to hit the ground hard enough that it stuck into the soft grassy terrain and collapsed. The airplane then nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane’s flight control systems.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 8, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 2009; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOKH Oak Harbor WA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Coupville WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KNUW, 11 miles away
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.