Amateur-built SDL accident near Naches, Washington, August 23, 2016
On August 23, 2016 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2005 amateur-built SDL, registered N945PL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Naches, Washington (Tieton State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2016 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Naches, Washington · Tieton State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SDL NO SERIES, built 2005
- Registration
- N945PL · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he made an approach to a dirt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane bounced during the touch down, and when it settled back to the runway the airplane's heading was not aligned with the runway heading. He recalled the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The left wing ribs and aileron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 364.2 hours in all; 360.2 in this make and model; 46.7 in the last 90 days; 11.6 in the last 30 days; 251.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 10, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 764.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,025 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 765 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KYM Yakima WA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 4S6 Naches WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,509 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KYKM, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.