# NTSB WPR26LA163: Piper PA30, N741TJ, Auburn, WA, April 18, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: April 18, 2026, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Auburn, WA
- Coordinates: 47.29146, -122.23539
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2915&lon=-122.2354&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202855
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA163
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202855/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA163

## Preliminary report

On April 18, 2026, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, N741TJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Auburn, Washington. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the flight departed Eureka-Murray Field Airport (EKA), Eureka, California, with about 85 gallons of fuel onboard and was destined for Renton Municipal Airport (RNT), Renton, Washington. The airplane was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and the initial portion of the flight was uneventful. The pilot reported that during the descent, about 2 hours and 29 minutes after departure, the airplane began to feel as though it had encountered wind shear or turbulence. Shortly thereafter, the left engine rpm decreased to about 1,900 rpm, and the pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control. The left engine rpm subsequently decreased to about 1,600 rpm, and the right engine rpm also began to decrease. At this time the pilot elected to divert to Auburn Municipal Airport (S50), Auburn, Washington. Both engines then further reduced to about 1,500 rpm, and the airplane was unable to maintain the glidepath to the runway. The pilot selected a dirt field southwest of the airport for a forced landing. During the approach to the field, she reduced the engine power to idle, extended the flaps, extended the landing gear and maneuvered the airplane toward the selected landing area. The airplane touched down in the dirt field and subsequently impacted a mound of soil resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that they departed with the main fuel tanks selected and switched to the auxiliary tanks about 1 hour into the flight. The pilot reported that she later switched back to the main tanks before the onset of the engine power fluctuations. The pilot-rated passenger reported that he did not recall which tanks were selected when the engine power fluctuations began. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. During recovery about 60 gallons of fuel were drained from the main fuel tanks.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N741TJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N741TJ), registered now, S/N 30-477, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA30 (NO SERIES EXISTS)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-477
- Year built: 1964
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Departed: EKA, Eureka, CA
- Destination: RNT, Renton, WA
- Airport: S50

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KSEA, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSEA 181953Z 24003KT 10SM FEW120 BKN220 17/03 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP170 T01670033

## 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 20260418009759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260418009759A), Apr 18, 2026: Piper PA-30, Auburn, WA, Substantial damage. On April 18, 2026, about 1330 pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-30 twin comanche, [privacy data omitted], Was substantially damaged when it was involved in an…

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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