Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / SEA06CA173

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event SEA06CA173

2006-08-30 Fairfield, Utah, United States Airport · 17U None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The failure of the pilot-rated-passenger to maintain adequate airspeed on final during a simulated engine-out approach, resulting in the aircraft descending into the terrain about 40 feet short of the runway, and the failure of the pilot-in-command to take remedial action.

Factual narrative

The pilot-in-command, who held a commercial pilot certificate, was letting his passenger, a certified flight instructor without a current medical, execute a simulated engine-out approach to a full-stop landing. While trying to stretch the final glide, the passenger let the airspeed get too slow, and the aircraft started descending at an excessive rate. The pilot-in-command did not take any remedial action, and the aircraft impacted the terrain about 40 feet short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot-in-command, who held a commercial pilot certificate, was letting his passenger, a certified flight instructor without a current medical, execute a simulated engine-out approach to a full-stop landing. While trying to stretch the final glide, the passenger let the airspeed get too slow, and the aircraft started descending at an excessive rate. The pilot-in-command did not take any remedial action, and the aircraft impacted the terrain about 40 feet short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2006_SEA06CA173.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.