# Accident 20180311001929A: Piper PA-18-150, La Center, WA, March 11, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 2018, 12:55 local time
- Place: La Center, WA
- Airport: Daybreak Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.8303° N, 122.6375° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8303&lon=-122.6375&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4511Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4511Y) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,225 total, 130 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18FA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA104) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180311001929A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR18FA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA104), Mar 11, 2018: Piper PA 18-150 (N4511Y), La Center, WA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.