Piper PA 18-150 accident near La Center, WA
On March 11, 2018, a Piper PA 18-150 (airplane) was involved in an accident near La Center, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 11, 2018
- Place
- La Center, WA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-150 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.830°N, 122.638°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180312X03110
Official records · WPR18FA104
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 11, 2018, about 1257 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N4511Y, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Daybreak Airport (WA46), La Center, Washington. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from Flying M Airport (OR05), Yamhill, Oregon, at 1030. Earlier that morning, the accident pilot met with another pilot and they decided to fly around the local area as a flight of two. After departing OR05, they proceeded north and landed at Woodland State Airport (W27), Woodland, Washington. On the way to their respective home airports, they decided to fly to WA46 to conduct touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The other pilot stated that the accident pilot departed W27 first, but when the other pilot arrived at WA46, he did not see the accident airplane in the traffic pattern. He then circled above WA46 and saw the wreckage in a wooded area near the approach end of runway 31. A witness at WA46 stated that he saw the accident airplane climbing about 150 ft above runway 31. Near the north end of the airport, the airplane started a "low" left turn to the south. The witness estimated that the airplane leveled off about 250 ft and continued out of sight. Moments later, he heard a series of three loud bangs, followed by the sound of a full-power engine, then another loud bang followed by "an abrupt stoppage
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.
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Browse: Washington · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
