- Date
- September 16, 1991, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Ellensburg, WA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N514PUPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910916044529A
- Case key
- 41538
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
The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's overconfidence in the aircraft's ability, and flight in a box canyon where remedial action was not possible.
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 of the Piper PA-28-161 proceeded along a canyon, initiating a climb as the canyon began to rise. The canyon narrowed and the pilot elected to land on a road straight ahead, rather than attempting a course reversal. The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it struck the terrain and brush.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N514PU
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-8316099
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Midstate Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Midstate Aviation, Inc.
- Departed
- ELN · Ellensburg, WA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 308 total · 50 in this make and model · 247 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.