What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On Sunday, March 11, 2018, a Piper PA-18-150, registered as N4511Y, serial number 18-8932, was involved in an accident approx. 175 yards southwest of runway 31 at Daybreak Airport (WA46) in La Center, Washington. The accident resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the fatality of the pilot, the sole aircraft occupant.
At the time of the accident, VFR weather conditions prevailed throughout the area.
Based upon witness statement, N4511Y was in the left hand traffic pattern for runway 31 at WA46. Examination of the wreckage indicates that the aircraft initially struck a tree with the left wing. The scene was heavliy wooded and several large pieces of freshly broken tree branches were located in the immediate area. Broken limbs on the tree were observable from the ground.
Note: pilot flight times reported on this form are approximations based on pilot's records.
As the FAA filed it
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018, A PIPER PA-18-150, REGISTERED AS N4511Y, SERIAL NUMBER 18-8932, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT APPROX. 175 YARDS SOUTHWEST OF RUNWAY 31 AT DAYBREAK AIRPORT (WA46) IN LA CENTER, WASHINGTON. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE FATALITY OF THE PILOT, THE SOLE AIRCRAFT OCCUPANT.
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, VFR WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
BASED UPON WITNESS STATEMENT, N4511Y WAS IN THE LEFT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 31 AT WA46. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT INITIALLY STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING. THE SCENE WAS HEAVLIY WOODED AND SEVERAL LARGE PIECES OF FRESHLY BROKEN TREE BRANCHES WERE LOCATED IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. BROKEN LIMBS ON THE TREE WERE OBSERVABLE FROM THE GROUND.
NOTE: PILOT FLIGHT TIMES REPORTED ON THIS FORM ARE APPROXIMATIONS BASED ON PILOT'S RECORDS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.