WPR26FA233

On June 24, 2026, about 1428 Pacific daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 195, N3877V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pasco, Washington. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary recordings from the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) indicated that the accident pilot transmitted to the ATCT about 1421, when they were about 15 miles south of PSC and stated that they were a float plane with the intent to land on the Columbia River. The controller stated that landing would be at their own risk and requested that they report when their landing was assured. The pilot responded that they would report when their landing was assured. The controller transmitted PSC’s current wind and altimeter setting to the accident pilot, with no further transmissions received from the pilot. According to multiple witness accounts and videos received, the accident airplane overflew the Ed Hendler Bridge from east to west and crossed the bridge between the north tower and the river’s eastern shoreline. It continued over the river on a westerly heading for about 9 seconds, then abruptly pitched nose down for 1 second before it struck a high tension transmission line, about 1,040 ft west of the bridge. Subsequently, the accident airplane descended vertically into the Columbia River and came to rest in the river inverted, about 100-200 ft from the river’s eastern shoreline. (see Figure 1.) Figure 1. Accident sequence over river. According to personnel at the Port of Kennewick, located on Clover Island in Kennewick, Washington, the pilot of the accident airplane contacted the Port by telephone, prior to the date of the accident and inquired about fuel availability at the Port’s marina. Employees at the Port communicated with the accident pilot regarding fueling options via the Port’s dock side fueling station and offered additional information for a local company who offered mobile fueling services for the same type of fuel, should the airplane need more fuel than the Port could provide. According to the passenger’s family members, the flight originated from the airplane’s base of operations on the Napa River, near Napa, California, on the morning of the accident. The intended destination was the Tanglefoot Seaplane Base (D28), Cavanaugh Bay, Idaho. The airplane was removed from the river by crane and set down on its right side, about 1,500 ft downriver from the impact site. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the floats and float struts, the empennage, engine and propeller assembly all remained attached to the fuselage. Both wings were observed separated from the fuselage at their roots and displayed leading edge crushing and denting. The left wing displayed tearing, crushing, and scraping at mid span, from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The left aileron was not observed with therecovered wreckage. Both wing flaps were observed in the extended position. Members of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue team conducted a search for the aileron, however, it was not located. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.