Yakovlev YAK 52 accident near Custer, Washington, June 10, 2001
On June 10, 2001 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Yakovlev YAK 52, registered N52BG, was destroyed in an accident near Custer, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The first pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Factors include an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2001 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Custer, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yakovlev YAK 52 · all YAK 52s on the register
- Registration
- N52BG · registry record · serial 889106
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental category Yakovlev Yak-52, was destroyed after colliding with terrain while maneuvering. The first pilot, a commercial pilot/certified flight instructor who was seated in the forward seat, and the second pilot, a commercial pilot receiving instruction, were fatally injured. The accident airplane, a Yak-52, was the number two airplane in a flight of three aircraft. Shortly after takeoff, the number three airplane (Yak-18) returned to secure a fuel door that became unlatched during the initial takeoff. The pilot of the Yak-52 elected to maneuver over an area know as Cherry Point and wait for pilot of the Yak-18 to rejoin him. Approximately 10 minutes later, the pilot of the Yak-18 rejoined the Yak-52. The Yak 18 pilot stated that as he approached the area from the northwest, he observed the accident airplane maneuvering northeast of his position at an altitude of 1,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). He instructed the Yak-52 pilot to reverse his course in an effort to join him in formation flight. He reported that shortly after the pilot of the Yak-52 initiated the turn to the west (left), the airplane "...stalled and pitched nose down at about 40-60 degrees." Reportedly, the Yak-52 then rolled to the right, pitched up and oscillated around its vertical axis. Witnesses stated that the accident airplane rotated 2-3 times prior to impacting terrain. The pilot of the Yak-18 stated the accident airplane impacted terrain in a relatively level attitude with little forward motion. Post accident inspection of the airplane and associated components revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (expired)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 905 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 2000; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ivchenko M-14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Point Roberts WA at 7:20 pm
- Destination: PAE Everett WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:05 pm from BLI, 165 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.