Amateur-built CA4-HP accident near Mansfield, Washington, April 26, 2009
On April 26, 2009 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CA4-HP, registered N33254, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Mansfield, Washington (Mansfield Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing with a known crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2009 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Mansfield, Washington · Mansfield Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CA4-HP
- Registration
- N33254 · no longer on the register · serial 96118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that prior to entering the pattern at the destination airport, he observed the airport's wind indicator, which showed a landing on runway 03, and to "expect a left crosswind component." The pilot reported that the approach for landing was normal; however, the airplane was bounced around from the "winds and/or turbulence," and that he had decided to go-around. Power was applied and then he raised the flaps. The airplane continued to descend and touched down on the runway, with full power. The airplane bounced back into the air with the right wing low. The airplane subsequently departed the runway environment as the pilot attempted to apply left aileron to raise the right wing. The airplane came to rest off the runway in a plowed wheat field. Examination of the airplane found no mechanical anomalies.
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 in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,181 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,440 as pilot in command; 293 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 16, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZT Sandpoint ID at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 8W3 Mansfield WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,575 ft by 46 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from EPH, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 29, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N33254: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350 770 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mansfield Airport · nearest airport
- Sandpoint Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,568 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR09LA217.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.