# NTSB SEA88LA180: Eagle DW-1, N8815C, Wenatchee, WA, September 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1988, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Wenatchee, WA
- Coordinates: 47.3703, -120.350563 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3703&lon=-120.3506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40887
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40887/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA180

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - aerial application
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - maneuver - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - aircraft performance - exceeded
  - load jettison - initiated

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF, PLT NOTED WIND INCREASING. PLT THEN MADE DOWNWIND 300 FT AGL SURVEY RUN OF FIELD TO BE SPRAYED ABUTTING COLUMBIA RIVER. IN PROCEDURE TURN OVER RIVER AT COMPLETION OF RUN, ACFT ENCOUNTERED 'SINKHOLE' WIHCH PLT COULD NOT COUNTER WITH FULL POWER AND AFTER DUMPING LOAD. ACFT COLLIDED WITH WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8815C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8815C-1991-03-29), registration cancelled 1991-03-29, S/N DW1009182 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Eagle Aircraft Co. DW-1
- Registry model: [Eagle EAGLE DW-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/eagle-eagle-dw-1) (registry code 3230203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: DW 10091 82
- Airframe hours: 1204
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-M1B5D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Inland Air Services, Inc.
- Registered owner: Inland Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 16, 1988, 44 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 16,500 total, 575 in this make and model, 16,300 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °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 19880916053199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880916053199A), Sep 16, 1988: Eagle DW1, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage. Encountered a strong downdraft on a spray turn around in gusty wind over a river. Unable to recover. Ditched.

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.

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