Amateur-built EAA Biplane (P-2) accident near Zillah, Washington, June 16, 2001
On June 16, 2001 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built EAA Biplane (P-2), registered N39RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zillah, Washington (Mc Mahon Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2001 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Zillah, Washington · Mc Mahon Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAA Biplane (P-2)
- Registration
- N39RS · registry record · serial RLS-001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot submitted a written statement to the NTSB dated June 28, and reported that the airplane touched down, in a three-point attitude, approximately 600-700 feet beyond the landing threshold of the eastbound turf runway. He reported that the airplane's touchdown speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (MPH), and that the runway surface was damp. He stated that shortly after touchdown, the airplane began to drift to the right side of the runway. The pilot applied brakes and corrective actions, however, the airplane continued to drift to the right. The airplane continued off the runway in to a parking area and collided with a temporary air traffic control tower and an unoccupied aircraft (Cessna 175). According to the Seattle Sectional Aeronautical Chart, 61st edition, the runway is 2,000 feet in length. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from the west at 10 MPH.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 588 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 508 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 9, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 611 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S98 Kennewick WA
- Destination: Zillah WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway E, 2,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.