WPR25FA213

On July 15, 2025, at about 1440 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Murphy Moose SR3500 airplane, N80TM, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Quinault, Washington. The pilot received minor injuries, one passenger received serious injuries, and one passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the airplane’s records, it had originally been constructed in Canada with a Vedeneyev M14P radial engine. In November 2023, it was imported to the United States and was altered to accommodate the installation of a Pratt & Whitney Canada T-74 (PT6A-20) engine. The pilot subsequently purchased the airplane in September 2024. The airplane was based at Olympia Regional Airport (OLM), Olympia, Washington. On the morning of the accident, the pilot did not note any anomalies with the airframe or engine during his preflight inspection. The pilot and passengers boarded the airplane, and flew to Sekiu Airport (11S), Sekiu, Washington. After having lunch in Sekiu, they departed for the return flight to OLM. (See Figure 1). Figure 1: The airplane’s flight path and the location of the accident site, depicted in the yellow inset. According to the pilot, about 20 minutes after departure from 11S, the engine sound changed, and the engine began to exhibit a “weird vibration.” Shortly thereafter, the Master Caution light on the instrument panel illuminated, and the engine experienced a total loss of power. When the pilot realized he would not be able to glide the airplane to a nearby lake, he extended the flaps slow the airplane in anticipation of the forced landing. The airplane subsequently impacted densely forested, mountainous terrain within Olympic National Park. (See Figure 2). Figure 2: An aerial photograph of the accident site. (Courtesy of the US Navy). The pilot reported he lost consciousness during the accident and did not regain consciousness until hours later. After removing the passengers from the airplane, the pilot manually activated the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and called 911. According to records provided by the National Park Service, the Olympic Park Dispatch was notified of the call at about 1840. The accident site was determined to be unreachable by foot, and at about 1915, a rescue helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was dispatched to recover the airplane occupants. At about 2204, dispatch was notified that the airplane occupants had been hoisted into the rescue helicopter by long line. The wreckage has been retained for further examination.