- Date
- March 6, 2000, 15:17 local (23:17 UTC)
- Place
- Richland, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8170WPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000306009129A
- Case key
- 48752
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of a connecting rod for undetermined reasons. Factors include unsuitable terrain for the forced landing attempt.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported experiencing an engine problem, and attempted to perform a forced landing on a highway. During the landing roll, the airplane rolled into a gully, substantially damaging a wing. Preliminary inspection by FAA inspectors revealed that number 3 and number 4 cylinders could not be removed due to barrel damage. Number 4 piston did not move when the crankshaft was rotated, and extensive metal particles were evident within the crankcase. The connecting rod was determined to have failed
Factual narrative
On March 6, 2000, approximately 1517 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8170W, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Richland, Washington, after a loss of power. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, which had departed Pasco, Washington, about 1510. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There was no report of ELT actuation.
The pilot reported experiencing an engine problem, and attempted to perform a forced landing on highway 240. During the landing roll, the airplane rolled into a gully, substantially damaging a wing. Preliminary inspection by FAA inspectors revealed that number 3 and number 4 cylinders could not be removed due to barrel damage. Number 4 piston did not move when the crankshaft was rotated, and extensive metal particles were evident within the crankcase. The connecting rod was determined to have failed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8170W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-2289
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ryan Dashiell
- Registered owner
- Ross Dashiell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PSC · Pasco, WA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 200 in this make and model · 2,950 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KPS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8170W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.