# NTSB SEA87FA014: Piper PA-38, N2565P, Port Townsend, WA, October 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1986, 19:30 local (Oct 26, 1986, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Port Townsend, WA
- Coordinates: 48.029235, -122.84082 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0292&lon=-122.8408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40508
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87FA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40508/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87FA014

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD FLOWN THIS ACFT OVER THE SAME ROUTE MANY TIMES. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TALL TREES ON RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF A DIRECT COURSE TO THE DESTINATION. THE WX IN THE VICINITY WAS CHARACTERIZED BY LOW CLOUDS, FOG & HAZE. APRX 23 MILES WEST, THE PORT ANGELES WX AT 1920 PDT WAS, IN PART: 1100 THIN BROKEN, SKY CONDITION OBSCURED ABOVE 1100 FT, VISIBILITY 3 MI WITH FOG AND HAZE, WIND CALM. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 1300 FT;THE ELEVATION AT PORT ANGELES WAS 288 FT. THIS PARTICULAR FOOTHILL WAS KNOWN TO BE THE SITE OF SEVERAL PRIOR MISHAPS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2565P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2565P-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 38-79A1040 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 79A1040
- Airframe hours: 562
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne W. Bertsch
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1986, 39 hours before
- Departed: PAE, EVERETT, WA
- Destination: CLM, PORT ANGELES, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 661 total, 630 in this make and model, 608 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLM, 23 nm away

## 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 19861025051529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861025051529A), Oct 25, 1986: Piper PA38112, Port Townsend, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft struck trees during a night flight. Weather at the site is unknown. The pilot may have entered fog.

## Other investigations on N2565P (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 LAX72AL038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX72AL038), Nov 23, 1971: Piper PA-22 (N2565P), Chloride, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal

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.