# NTSB SEA08LA200: Piper PA-18-150, N9268D, Napavine, WA, September 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 2008, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Napavine, WA - Coordinates: 46.595554, -122.92028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5956&lon=-122.9203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68932 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68932/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA200 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to make a low-altitude pass, and his failure to maintain clearance from all structures while maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis Soon after liftoff, the pilot made a steeply-banked right turn of more than 90 degrees in order to make a low pass by the house of a friend. As he flew by the friend's house, with the airplane still in a steep right bank, the airplane's right wing tip clipped a greenhouse/potting shed in the neighbor's yard. After contacting the shed, the airplane continued on for about 150 feet before impacting the corner of a hangar owned by the pilot. According to a witness in the yard where the shed was located, the airplane's engine sounded like it was running smooth and strong, and it appeared that the pilot was in control up until the time the airplane clipped the shed. There was no evidence of any pre-impact malfunction of the airplane's engine, flight controls, or airframe. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 2008, about 1645 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N9268D, impacted a hangar adjacent to a private airstrip about two miles northeast of Napavine, Washington. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal pleasure flight had taken off less than 30 seconds prior to the accident. The takeoff was made in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to witnesses, soon after liftoff, the pilot made a steeply-banked right turn of more than 90 degrees in order to make a low pass by the house of a friend. As he flew by the friend's house, with the airplane still in a steep right bank, the airplane's right wing tip clipped a greenhouse/potting shed in the neighbor's yard. After contacting the shed, the airplane continued on for about 150 feet before impacting the corner of a hangar owned by the pilot. According to a witness in the yard where the shed was located, the airplane's engine sounded like it was running smooth and strong, and it appeared that the pilot was in control up until the time the airplane clipped the shed. Other individuals who lived in the area stated that the pilot had made low-altitude passes near their home or hangar in the past. A Federal Aviation Airworthiness Inspector who responded to the scene reported that there was no evidence of any pre-impact malfunction of the airplane's engine, flight controls, or airframe. As of the date of this report, the pilot was still hospitalized and unable to submit an NTSB Form 6120.1. He reportedly still does not have a clear recollection of the sequence of events that led to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9268D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9268D-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 18-6567, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-6567 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Yoseph Barry L - Registered owner: Yoseph Barry L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Napavine, WA - Destination: Napavine, WA - Airport: Druckmen Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 10,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080914845179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080914845179A), Sep 14, 2008: Piper PA18150, Chehalis, WA, Destroyed. (-23) On 9/14/2008, at approsimately 1435 [privacy data omitted], pilot of N9268D, tookoff from druckmen field at 237 forest napavine road east, Chehalis WA.… 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. --- 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.