What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A pilot took off from his private airstrip near Washougal, WA. As the aircraft departed, a right turn was initiated. Witnesses recall seeing the aircraft striking the top of a 70 foot tree, loosing altitude while in a left bank, then disapearing upside down into a canopy of trees. Although the pilot had serious injuries, he told the first responders that he had experienced engine trouble before the crash. A subsequent wreckage examination and engine tear down is planned. The investigation is ongoing and this form will be updated in the future as needed. Amendment - a subsequent wreckage examination and engine teardown inspection was completed on 08/31/09. All spark plugs were worn and one (1) cylinder valve was stuck due to coking. Both conditions may have contributed to a rough running engine.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A PILOT TOOK OFF FROM HIS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR WASHOUGAL, WA. AS THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED, A RIGHT TURN WAS INITIATED. WITNESSES RECALL SEEING THE AIRCRAFT STRIKING THE TOP OF A 70 FOOT TREE, LOOSING ALTITUDE WHILE IN A LEFT BANK, THEN DISAPEARING UPSIDE DOWN INTO A CANOPY OF TREES. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD SERIOUS INJURIES, HE TOLD THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED ENGINE TROUBLE BEFORE THE CRASH. A SUBSEQUENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION AND ENGINE TEAR DOWN IS PLANNED. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING AND THIS FORM WILL BE UPDATED IN THE FUTURE AS NEEDED. AMENDMENT - A SUBSEQUENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION AND ENGINE TEARDOWN INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON 08/31/09. ALL SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN AND ONE (1) CYLINDER VALVE WAS STUCK DUE TO COKING. BOTH CONDITIONS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N22278 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.