Amateur-built PIETENPOL accident near Raymond, Washington, September 23, 2000
On September 23, 2000 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built PIETENPOL, registered N5079R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raymond, Washington (Willapa Harbor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above power-off stall speed (Vso) while attempting a forced landing after a total loss of engine power, and his failure to move the fuel selector switch to the 'ON' position prior to takeoff. Factors include the pilot's failure to use a checklist, fuel starvation, and an inadequate fuel valve location.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2000 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Raymond, Washington · Willapa Harbor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIETENPOL
- Registration
- N5079R · no longer on the register · serial 6518
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who did not use a checklist, placed the fuel valve in the 'OFF' position while hand-propping his aircraft. After the engine started, he climbed into the back cockpit, but forgot to reposition the fuel valve, which was located in the front cockpit, to the 'ON' position. During the climb-out after takeoff, the engine quit from fuel starvation, but the pilot was unable to reach the valve in order to reposition it during flight. He therefore turned back to the airport in order to execute an engine-out landing. As the aircraft was crossing the runway threshold, the pilot allowed the airspeed to drop below power-off stall speed (Vso), and the aircraft stalled/mushed into the runway surface.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2S9 at 4:57 pm
- Destination: AST Astoria OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,000 ft by 52 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.